No, its not that kind of fun, rather a fun little flash mob scene at the Hollywood and Highland shopping center. The folks over at GuerilLA have it all planned out.  Bring your banana and pretend its a cell phone.  Talk into it, text with it, take pictures with it, do what ever you do with a cell phone with it.   The Mission starts at the Orange Court Sunday 2/13 at 1:20 and ends promptly at 1:40.  All the details you could want are on their FB page HERE.

This is also a mass transit friendly event as you can take the Red Line to the Hollywood/Highland stop, and it is also a Metro hub.  Beats traffic and parking hassles.

The fate of the Hollywood Farmers’ Market at Selma and Ivar is still one big question mark, as aptly symbolized by the market’s homepage.  As you recall, the market is in a turf war with the LA Film School: the school specifically wants the market off of the Ivar section between Selma and Sunset so it can access one of its three disconnected parking structures on Sundays; the market says doing so will unacceptably chop off one of its vital arms.  Until now, the market was operating on a week-to-week basis, but, after something akin to a summit between all interested parties on Thursday, the city “verbally committed” to giving SEE-LA (the non-profit arm that operates the market) a 90-day extension on its street closure permit.  Accordingly, the market can continue to operate as-is for the next three months.  During this reprieve, both sides will do their homework: SEE-LA will “work with the Department of Transportation to research alternative market layouts on adjacent streets, [...] and could present the opportunity for the market to expand” while the film school “will consider construction options to connect its parking structures and provide access to their facilities 24/7.”

As it turns out, there are others outside the film school interested in seeing the market move from its current location at Selma and Ivar.  During a KCRW discussion on the dispute, Hollywood Property Owners Alliance president Kerry Morrison pointed out that the farmers’ market moved into Hollywood some 20 years ago when there was not a whole lot going on in the area.  Now, the “renaissance of Hollywood has breathed life into different pockets” of the area, including the market’s current location.  ”How long can this market continue to survive in a economically vital area?”  she asked.  She then suggested that the market move to, uh, help? bring about a renaissance in other parts of Hollywood:  ”[T]here are pockets of Hollywood that would benefit, and could really thrive, with the revitalization of having vendors and pedestrians and just life on a Sunday morning.”  This brings up the question of what, exactly, is the role of a farmers’ market in our community, and whether we all should invest in the idea of a nomadic market, one that moves every few years once its function as an ad hoc gentrifier is completed.

After talking about the market’s role in revitalizing the Hollywood area, she noted (as the film school has, in other outlets) that the school invested some $65 million in Hollywood.  This is something I suppose we to feel very grateful for, so let’s all thank the film school.  Now, if this post were a script, that statement would be followed by a bracketed direction right about here:

[A BEAT, THEN AN EYEROLL]

Other interesting tidbits from the discussion: the Jack-in-the Box at Ivar and Sunset also is against the market’s permit renewal.  Unless it really does work something reasonable out, then, the city is in a tricky position of restricting fast food restaurants in South LA with the intent to force feed residents market fresh food on one hand, and having to accomodate a fast food restaurant’s demands to shut down a source of market fresh food on the other.

More on the fast-approaching closure of the Hollywood Farmers’ Market, or at least part of it: per KTLA, the issue really is a turf war.  Which is horrible: I would like to think that if a major farmers’ market like the Hollywood one were to shut down, it would be for a better reason than parking.  C’mon, parking, really?  The LA Film School wants access to its parking lot on Ivar (between Sunset and Selma – a huge chunk of the market), which is blocked every Sunday for 9 hours by the market.  Accordingly, it asked the city to deny the markets’ permit renewal to operate on the street.  The market as we know it has been operating at Selma and Ivar for 20 years; according to SEE-LA, the non-profit that runs the market, up to 10,000 people shop at the market every week.

Apparently, very few decisionmakers at the film school shop at the market and realize what a gem it is.  Or, they don’t really care either way.  According to a school official who spoke to LA Weekly: ​”The school has seen incredible growth,” Ibrahim says. “And the weekends are big. Students don’t have class on those days, but they use those labs for their projects … and you’ve got to include visitors on those days.”

…right.  According to SEE-LA, “If the City follows through, most of the Sunday market vendors on Ivar Avenue between Selma Ave. and Sunset Blvd. – about 1/2 of the farmers – could be denied space to operate, or may be shifted to a new, not-yet-determined location less convenient or less safe than their current placement.”  Both SEE-LA and KTLA note a domino effect for other markets in the area if the Hollywood one is forced to shut down.  Many of the vendors make the most income at Hollywood; “with the loss of that income, 7 other smaller farmers’ markets in low income areas like Watts, Crenshaw, South Central, Echo Park, East Hollywood and Atwater Village that are supported by the Hollywood Farmers’ Market could also be forced to close.”  The repercussions, then, reach far beyond just Hollywood.

The LA Film School started in 1999, and one can make a reasonable argument that the school is an important part of the community as well.  That’s just to be fair.  After all, as the official in the LA Weekly story pointed out, the school has a student enrollment of some 1,500 — a fraction of whom, I’ll add, would like to have parking access on Sundays.  Starting at 8am.  So, given the balance of justice here, you’d think there would be some sort of utilitarian argument in favor of allowing the market to operate as it does, once a week, on Sundays. Or, you’d think there would be something about how possession-is-nine-tenths-of-the-law working in the market’s favor, because they were there before the film school.  Alas, I guess they don’t teach the tenets of John Stuart Mill in film school.

On Sunday, market volunteers gathered over 3,400 signatures to object to the closure (this would be over two times the number of students enrolled at the film school), and another petition drive will circulate if necessary.  Councilman Eric Garcetti also is intent on keeping on the market alive as is; as he tweeted this evening, “We love HFM and have worked way too hard to support it financially and with city help. Working hard to resolve legal issues. Thx!”  For now, the market will operate as it does for the next month as the permit issues are ironed out.  Ideally, during this month, more and more people will knock some reason into the film school’s classrooms.

To stay updated on the fate of the market, email your contact information to info [at]  farmernet [dot] com.  And, you can like, really, really like a Facebook page that popped up overnight to support the market here.  I can almost guarantee you that will be a billion times more effective than changing your profile picture to somehow raise child abuse awareness.

“Souper Mix” photo by Lucyrk in LA via the Blogging LA Flickr pool.

A one night only comedy showcase– Comedy Zen– features some of the funniest and finest multicultural comedians working today. While some of the headliners are from out of town, I’m especially excited about Steven Ho, a Hollywood stuntman you may recognize from Conan O’Brien’s show(s) when he was on NBC.

• Come see why Steven Ho was the most booked guest on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. He is a professional stuntman at the A-List level working with stars like Tobey Maguire, Brad Pitt, and Leonardo Dicaprio.
• Joe Wong hails from Boston and was a scientist researching answers for the mysteries of the field. Then he discovered stand up and has never looked back. Joe is the “All American Immigrant.” Even though some Asians might find him to be a novelty act for the white man, we give him full support as an artist mastering a difficult craft, which is the art of laugh inducing. Joe has taken command of this and his appearance on Letterman or the Presidential dinner invitation is proof of this.
• Jay Phillips was one of VARIETY Magazine’s 10 COMICS TO WATCH and his recent film credits include the #1 weekend opener SEMI-PRO opposite Will Ferrell, PROM NIGHT with Brittnay Snow, and BABY MAMMA opposite Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. His stand-up credits include Def Comedy Jam, The Late Show, and Lafapalooza. You can see him at http://jayphillipslive.net/.

Hosted by Hasan Minhaj, comedian, actor, and writer based in Los Angeles, portions of all shows will be going to the American Lung Association. There will be one show on Friday, December 3, 2010 (at 8:30pm) and will be held at the Downtown Independent Theater (251 S. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90012). Tickets are $20, but 8Asians (another site I contribute to) is doing a ticket giveaway.

It’s that time of the year again: no, not shopping, or acceptance of Christmas creep, or holiday countdowns.  No, it’s the Hollywood Christmas Parade, an annual event whose existence inexplicably strikes me as odd every year.  Larry King leads the parade down Hollywood Boulevard at 6pm, but the road closures start early and they’ll last all day.  The LAFD has a handy map of the road closures (click on the image to biggify); if you’re more textual than visual, the Hollywood Christmas Parade’s website bullet-points it out for you:

• Hollywood Blvd. from LaBrea to Orange at 6:00 AM. Re-open at 10:00 PM.
• Hawthorne Ave., DeLongpre Ave., Fountain Ave. from LaBrea to Highland Ave. at 1:00 PM. Re-opening at 9:00 PM.
• El Cerrito Place from Hollywood Blvd. to Franklin Ave. at 1:00 PM. Re-open at 8:00 PM.
• Sycamore, Orange from Franklin Ave. to Fountain at 1:00 PM. Re-open at 9:00 PM.
• Sunset Blvd. from LaBrea Ave. to Highland Ave. at 1:00 PM. Re-open at 10:00 PM.
• East side of LaBrea from Hollywood Blvd. to Sunset Blvd. at 4:00 PM. Re-open at 7:00 PM.
• Highland Ave. from Franklin Ave. to Santa Monica at 4:00 PM. Re-open at 9:00 PM.
• Hollywood Blvd. from Highland Ave. to Gower at 4:00 PM. Re-open at 9:00 PM.
• Vine Street from Franklin Ave. to Santa Monica at 4:00 PM. Re-open at 9:00 PM.
• Sunset Blvd. from Highland Ave. to Gower at 4:00 PM. Re-open at 9:00PM.
• Sunset Blvd. From Highland to La Brea at 3:00 PM. Reopen at 10:00 PM

UPDATE: Einstürzende Neubauten’s 30th Anniversary U.S. tour has been canceled. From our friends at Goldenvoice:

“It is with great regret that Einstürzende Neubauten announce the cancellation of their planned thirtieth anniversary appearances in Los Angeles , San Francisco , Chicago , Toronto and New York .  While the US Department of Homeland Security did issue approvals for the band’s visas, it was not done in time to secure the appointments at the overseas embassies and consulates that represent the necessary final step in the process.

The band members are tremendously disappointed by this turn of events and wish to thank all those fans who purchased tickets for these performances for their support.  The band would have loved to do the tour and meet their overseas fans. Because this tour was a time-sensitive production, it will not be rescheduled.  Ticketholders can obtain refunds from their point of purchase. ”

I expect you’re probably as disappointed as I am. Please direct your notes of appreciation for the Department of Homeland Security Theater keeping us safe from terrorists and German musicians to:

Secretary Janet Napolitano
Department Of Homeland Security
U.S. Department Of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528

Someone with better Google-fu than mine can find Sec. Napolitano’s email address, but you can call her at: (202) 282-8000.

————————————————

For those that don’t read German, the title reads, “Win tickets for Einsturzende Neubauten!”

German experimental band Einstürzende Neubauten are celebrating their 30th anniversary. They’ll be bringing their show to Los Angeles next week, and Blogging.LA has your tickets.

In addition to regular concert performances, the band is playing a second date in each city along the tour. The first date will be a standard concert performance, while the second date will open with films and art installations, followed by a short concert presentation featuring material that has never been performed live before. Those second shows will finish with performances by the individual Einstürzende Neubauten members.

Thanks to our friends at Goldenvoice, Blogging.LA has your tickets to see  Einstürzende Neubauten on December 1st at the Music Box. This will be their full concert performance. Want to join me at the Music Box? Just leave a note in the comments section below telling me why you want to see this show. The winner gets a pair of tickets for the December 1st concert at the Music Box in Hollywood.

Want to take chance out of the equation? You can buy tickets for the show here. The second date (films, rarities, solo shows) is happening the following night (December 2) at the EchoPlex.

Damian Kulash & Tim Nordwind of OK Go

Maybe not everyone loves a parade, but if you are like me and do, Los Angeles is a great place for one. Not only do we have the annual Rose Parade, but the city is also known for its Doo-Dah Parade, Hollywood Christmas Parade, those Lakers parades whenever they win championships and many, many more.

This past Wednesday, the band OK Go teamed up with Range Rover for an amazing event called “Dance Through Your City.” Essentially, they held a parade for many hours through the streets of the Los Feliz/Hollywood area. Using GPS, the route spelled out the band’s name, which could be visualized on the Range Rover Pulse of the City app. A mobile, musical work of art utilizing the streets and people of Los Angeles. How cool is that?

When I first heard about this event, I was saddened to know I’d be at work and not able to participate. What I didn’t know was that this parade was planned to go on for HOURS, meaning that I did get to take part in the evening. Since the route wasn’t published ahead of time, I was also surprised to learn it was going right by my workplace. I heard it go by, yet failed at finding a good excuse to run outside.

I was able to join up with paraders when they had stopped for a dinner break. The band changed from the brightly colored suits they wore during the day to the black suits covered with changing-color LEDs. Others were wrapping drums, trombones, guitars and themselves with electroluminescent wire. Everyone was encouraged to accessorize with glow sticks and all sorts of other blinking objects.

The experience of parading through the L.A. streets after dark, singing and dancing with other enthusiastic people is something I highly recommend. Part of the fun was the various folks running out of their houses, shops, etc. with quizzical looks or cameras. Some people shook their head, some people danced, and a few even joined in the parade. We saw lots of kids in pajamas. As I marched along, I couldn’t help but think that this was exactly the kind of experience that makes me love L.A.

For more parade goodness, check out the write-ups at LAist and Billboard.com.

Is this a semi-annual April Fool’s joke?  CHP Southern Division, L.A. County apparently tweeted the following @CHP_Southern an hour ago:

“CHP Dispatch receiving a call from hiker stating he fell & is stuck between the two ‘L’s on the HOLLYWOOD sign. @lafd has been notified”

Of course, the tweet and/or the alleged phone call could be a prank.  But if not, I suggest we call the Chilean mine rescue team, as they suddenly have some down time. I imagine we’ll be learning more about this soon.

I can almost see the stuck hiker between the L's

Yup, this one’s for SUPERCHUNK, VASELINES, and TELEKINISIS.

The show is at the Music Box on Tuesday, October 19th.

What, you wonder, do YOU have to do to score two free tickets?

The first person to comment with a sentence (in English) using all the letters of the alphabet wins.

The shorter the better – Oh and “The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog” is out.

There are book signing and then there are Weird book signings that make it all the more fun to attend. This Friday night from 8pm to 10pm, writer Joe Oesterle, who has written a number of the book’s subjects, and other special guests will be at the legendary Boardners bar off Hollywood Blvd. to mingle, sign books, and share some of the weirder tales Los Angeles has been host to.  This book signing is also being co-sponsored by our past city captain David Markland and creator of CreepyLA.

It’s definitely going to be a weird event. Hope to see you there.

Special Guests so far include:
- Karie Bible (from Film Radar, and more notoriously rumored to be the Lady In Black)
- Scott Michaels (celebrity death expert, owner/operator of Dearly Departed Tours)
- Count Smokula (horror host, songwriter)
- Dennis Woodruff (yeah, that guy with the cars)
- Richard Carradine (GHOULA founder, author of The Park After Dark: An Unauthorized Guide to the Happiest (Haunted) Place on Earth)
- Rich Kuras, Managing Editor of Mania.com
- Christopher Dennis, aka Superman (George Reeves look-a-like) on Hollywood Blvd.
- Steve Goldstein author of “LA’s Graveside Companion.”
- Donna Lethal, sassy Hollywood aficionado and writer
- David Markland (creator, CreepyLA)

Deets 10/8 8PM-10PM, Boardners Bar 1652 N. Cherokee Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Blogger Prom 2010, one of the most exciting, most exclusive parties of the year was held recently at the restaurant with perhaps one of the most beautiful views in Los Angeles, Yamashiro. Too many superlatives for the first sentence, you say? To call this event merely spectacular would be gross understatement.

Obligatory awkward pre-prom photo.

Did you have a good time at your high school prom? Really? I went to two senior proms (as a sophomore I dated a senior; aww yeeeah.) Now granted, it’s been a few years since those proms, but as I recall both were notable for not being particularly memorable. What I do remember is paying more than was reasonable for a mediocre meal, bad music, and hanging out for hours with a bunch of people I didn’t particularly like. (No offense to my old high school friends who may be reading this. Not you, of course; I’m talking about all those other jerks.)

Blogger Prom is the grown up version of what those other proms aspire to be. No generic rented tuxedos here. This year’s theme was “L.A. Confidential,” so attendees dressed with that style/period in mind. Everyone looked fantastic. Rather than some unremarkable hotel ballroom, this prom was held at a gorgeous Hollywood landmark. Also, no need to sneak booze in (Dad, if you’re reading, I probably didn’t do that in high school,) as adult beverages were provided by Pinky Vodka, Zaya Rum, The Beer Chicks and Eagle Rock Brewery, and The Dalmore scotch.

Not to be out done by the drinks, the food was provided by Yamashiro’s own Chef Brock. Among other dishes, Chef Brock made a smoked sausage taco. He brought in the smoked sausage from a 100+ year old smoke house on his own family farm in eastern Washington. Delicious! There was also a great Wasabi Guacamole that  he tells me is not as easy to make as it sounds.

In addition to all of the great food and drink in beautiful surroundings, the guest list was made up entirely of southern California bloggers. It was a chance to see old friends, meet new ones, and finally connect faces to many of the online personas that we were already so familiar with.

Queen JozJozJoz's reign begins. Photo by Heather Kincaid (heatherkincaid.com/blog.)

This event was a prom, and of course, every prom needs its Prom Queen. Nominations happened online, with the final voting being completed on the evening of the prom. There was stiff competition, but ultimately one stood victorious. Blogger Prom Queen 2010 is none other than 8Asians.com editor and Blogging.LA‘s own, JozJozJoz!

As the evening wound down, some continued on to the official Blogger Prom after party at Test Kitchen. As we departed, each guest received a fantastic gift bag filled with everything from Pinkberry and Sprinkles cupcakes to passes to American Cinematheque and the Grammy Museum, a gift certificate for tickets at Goldstar.com and so much more.

The tale of this evening would not be complete without a huge thank you to the Blogger Prom Committee, without whom none of this would have been possible. They all worked so hard to put together this delightful evening and make sure that it was the party of the year, and at that they were wildly successful. In addition to throwing one hell of a party, the committee made this a charitable benefit, and were able to raise $2,400 for Operation Fronline Los Angeles. Thank you Caroline On Crack, E*StarLA, Happy Go Marni, LA and OC Foodventures, LAist, Shop Eat Sleep, The Liquid Muse, and When Tara Met Blog.

The Blogger Prom Committee. Photo by Heather Kincaid (heatherkincaid.com/blog.)

Blogger Prom 2009 was fantastic. Blogger Prom 2010 was even better. I don’t mind telling you, I can’t wait for Blogger Prom 2011. If you weren’t on the guest list this year, you certainly don’t want to miss next year. Start your blog now, and keep your fingers crossed that you make the list. At the very least, start sucking up to your favorite L.A. blogger now, and maybe, just maybe, you can be his +1 for the best party of the year.

The Holy Trinity: Grilled Cheese, Stewed ToMAAAHtoes, Old Fashioned Cocktail

Certainly this is far from my first post about the legendary Musso and Frank Grill, and it’s no secret that by this time I’ve likely eaten my weight in the Thursday night special: Chicken Pot Pie.

But what if you’re hungry, near Musso’s, and it’s just not Thursday?

Allow me to suggest the (hiding in plain sight) Grilled Cheese Sandwich. It’s right there on the menu, in the Sandwiches section, but if you’re not looking for it you might just miss it.

There are a couple of key elements to replicating the pictured result: the first is you need to have SERGIO as your waiter, and the second is you need to know that if Sergio likes you – and for the love of god be nice to him or I will personally have you killed – that you can ever so sweetly ask him to ADD things to the Grilled Cheese.

Things like bacon. And tomato. Or even (if you’re one Very Special Lady) a fried eggiweg.

Think you can’t afford to eat at Musso’s any more? While steaks and those delightful lamb chops (best in LA) may have slipped beyond your grasp, this little beauty is only about nine bucks. Oh yeah. The cat’s out of the bag now.

Remember that meager price tag when your bill comes – tip generously.

6667 Hollywood Blvd

Los Angeles, California 90028

(323) 467-7788
Open Tue-Thu 11am-11pm; Fri-Sat 11am-2am

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is, according to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, “undoubtedly one of the most successful marketing ideas ever produced.”  I don’t know whether to congratulate them or to sucker punch us for falling victim to the commercial.

And yet the Walk of Fame, for its attempts at crass tourism, is one of the most iconic, and oddest, landmarks of LA.  Intended to publicly acknowledge the contributions of those in the industry, we end up walking all over them even as we applaud.  It’s like a roast, without the snarky jokes. Muhammad Ali understood this completely, and requested that his star be placed on a wall, like a plaque or other commonplace gesture of tribute.  He is the exception: one point three miles of five-point stars line Hollywood streets the way the stars line the sky.

According to Wikipedia and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the cost to build the original section of the Walk of Fame was $1.25 million, which worked out to roughly $85/square foot for each property owner on the stars’ path.  Between 1960 and 1961, 1,558 stars were aligned on the sidewalk – excluding, notably, Charlie Chaplin.  Foreshadowing the finicky and political nature of the star selection process, Chaplin was denied a star despite his uh, mildly groundbreaking work in film.  The committee cited some vague thing or two about his morals (read: the 1960s were a bad, bad time to be a lefty).  The Tramp finally was given his due in 1972.

Today, you have to survive the politics as well as the economics to get a star on the Walk.  Anyone can be nominated so long as they have at least five years experience in one of five categories (television, film, radio, recording, and live theater) and so long as the nominee actually agrees to be nominated (deceased celebrities may be nominated, but they must be deceased for – you guessed it – at least five years).  Of the 200-ish nominations received each year, twenty are selected every June.  This year, Melissa Etheridge, Ridley Scott, The Muppets (!!), and Oprah are amongst the stars chosen for a star.  If you glance through the roster of stars, you’ll notice that for every deserving recipient (Johnny Carson, the Beatles), there a few dubious ones.  The Rugrats, really?  Drew Carey?  Kim Basinger?

In addition, there is a little issue of money: recipients must pay a mandatory fee of $25,000 to create and install their star, as well as to maintain the Walk of Fame generally.  It’s sort of like adopting a highway, except you get a star instead of an ugly roadside sign.

In the rare, rare occasions I’m in Hollywood, I get a kick out of watching which stars people stop to photograph.  One weekend afternoon a month or so ago, I watched as Michael Jackson’s star (in front of Grauman’s) was photographed by every person who walked by it.  Some apparently made it a point to seek out his five points; others were excited to find him by happenstance.  This reminded me of the other, more touching use of the Walk of Fame: as a place where we all can assemble, mourn, and pay our final respects.

Other stars that people like to photograph: Lucille Ball (I saw three separate parties snap a pic of her star (honoring her film contributions) at Hollywood and Wilcox.  The star honoring her for I Love Lucy and other television work is further down on Gower); Johnny Depp (outside of Grauman’s); and Kermit the Frog (whose birthplace is “NA.” C’mon, we all know he was born in the swamps…).

So iconic is the Walk of Fame, and so successful has it been at mashing tribute with tourism, that it has spawned other similar walks.  The Canadian Walk of Fame in Toronto honors the contributions of Canadians.  The Dog Walk of Fame in London honors the contributions of Toto, Gromit, and other pooches of note.  The Palm Springs Walk of Fame honors those who “must have, by their presence in the area, contributed to the charm, worldwide prominence and name recognition of Greater Palm Springs.”  (Contrary to what you may believe, there are non-gay people on that Walk of Fame too.).

For many aspiring to make it in Hollywood, getting a star on the Walk of Fame (Hollywood) is a sign that they indeed have touched the star they tried so hard to reach.  And when you are lauded one day, stepped on the next, well, you really did a swell job of earning that gold star.

Awesome aerial view of the Walk of Fame courtesy Christian Haugen under a Creative Commons license.  Photos of the Dennis Hopper and Michael Jackson stars courtesy lucyrk via the Blogging LA Flickr pool.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is but one icon we’re covering in our LA’s Greatest Landmarks series.  See the others here.

Taquero Extraordinaire, Ricky.

I’ve got to tell you, L.A., I’m almost hesitant to let you in on the (not so) secret I’m about to divulge. I’m about to tell you where to find the best fish tacos. Once I do, you will go and try them. When you try them, you will crave them all the time. And then there is a chance that I will have to wait behind many of you in the line to fish taco heaven.

Ricky’s Fish Tacos are without doubt the best fish tacos I’ve ever had, and I’ve tried more than a few. Tender fish (or shrimp,) battered and cooked to perfection, enveloped in a fresh tortilla and topped with finely chopped cabbage and fresh pico de gallo.

Once Ricky turns the plate over to you, you can finish your tacos with one of his three homemade salsas and crema. You’ll want something to drink as well, so try the Aguas Frescas (pineapple/mango or my favorite, watermelon.)

Ricky let me in on some of his secrets, but I won’t divulge them all. I will tell you that the centerpiece of his tacos are large pieces of fresh Vietnamese Catfish. Moist and flaky, light and mild flavored. Delicious!

Ricky began his growing empire on New Year’s Eve 2008. He started on the sidewalk on Sunset Boulevard with a modified rolling three drawer filing cabinet; propane tank in the bottom drawer, fryer on top. He didn’t sell a single taco that night.

Since then, as word has gotten around about his amazing tacos, Ricky’s business has grown steadily. Throughout 2009 he offered his taco genius on weekends on Sunset Blvd. in Silver Lake. He has expanded his hours and is now in a larger location with a patio-like seating area, shaded tables, and all sorts of world music playing from the speakers. And of course, Ricky’s always smiling face, welcoming you from behind the fryer.

You’ll find Ricky at 1400 N. Virgil in Hollywood (about a block south of where Sunset & Hollywood Boulevards converge.) He is serving lunch Monday through Friday, 11:30am-3:30pm. Saturday & Sunday he’s there from 11:30am-6:00pm. Of course, you can always check his Twitter feed for the latest updates.

Tacos de pescado y aguas frescas. ¡Delicioso!

HarshLight's HiHo photo used through Creative Commons License

It bears mentioning that Hollywood and Highland, the garish retail/ hotel/ entertainment complex on the eponymous HiHo corner, is the only landmark we b.la-ers argued about in developing a list of what to cover for this series–well, Rob and I argued about it anyway. Rob thought it was an upstart piece of the landscape, only opened in 2001, not seasoned enough to call itself a real landmark and living parasitically [I am putting words in Rob's mouth, but this was the gist] off the bodies of Grauman’s Chinese and the Kodak. I myself love HiHo because it’s so vulgar it makes an art form out of grotesque. To me, it’s only too fitting that a mall so pretentious as to model itself after DW Griffith’s vision of Babylon, should emerge like the monster in Alien out of the stomach of old Hollywood. Is nothing sacred? Well, no, in fact, nothing is. Next question?

DW Griffith's Babylon set for Intolerance

First and foremost, there’s the architecture. Oh, the architecture! Really every time I drive down Highland into Hollywood and that neo-retro Egyptian/Babylon arch rises in front of me like a freaking spaceship of stage-set excess it makes me smile. The elephants! The columns! And to design the entire thing after a movie set in Babylon that cost about two million in 1917 dollars–such an expensive disaster it caused Griffith’s studios to go bankrupt–a movie about worship of false idols, no less! That’s inspired, people, truly. Anyone who criticizes LA for shallowness fundamentally does not understand the complexity of our shallowness. HiHo is a palimpsest text with so many layers of shallowness it’s got its own depth. And yes, it did win Curbed LA‘s ugliest LA building award in 2007. Hurrah! Even better, it cost $615 million to make and it was sold three years later for $200 million. When we do white elephant in LA, we do it big.

The three things you need to know about HiHo, in my opinion, are: 1. You can park there for 4 hours for $2 with validation (and $10 all day & night). 2. There is no better place to cultivate your disdain. Hootchie skirts, affliction shirts, and–yes still–Uggs abound. 3. There is a Beard Papa there, which is to say, you can have awesome cream puffs while you scorn everyone. Intolerance? You said it.