How quickly things change from bad to good and vice versa. I could give a million examples but I'll cut to the quick: I was able to receive my vaccines in April and earlier this month. I'd have gone anywhere to do this, but what worked out for me was the infamous Ralphs on Sunset. It was a go-to market for me in my Hollywood days in the early to mid 00's, and creator of many tales. And, for a while, that stretch of Sunset was "Rock n Roll" for everything in title with it being east of the Strip, but with Guitar Center and many similar shops nearby helping give that moniker. At the time, it was merely a nickname, but it was the clientele that enhanced its nuttiness.
I couldn't tell you when I was last in this place - maybe 16 years? Just arriving back to that part of town was a rush of memories. It was late, wandering nights. It was occasions where I was one of the folks closing down El Compadre. And it was the Filthy Falk himself, stumbling in and out of many bars and apartments. The very definition of a functioning alcoholic, he agreed that central AC was important over the summer, as was a pool. The rest did not matter. When I say "the rest," I mean it. And in this area, I can think back to him:
Getting kicked out of multiple bars, all before midnight.
Falling face-first on the sidewalk in a drunken haze. Before an ambulance could show up, he rode the 3rd rail home and then ate 2 cans of Chef Boy-ar-Dee.
Him drunkenly buying 3 hot dogs (with ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise) eating one, and then throwing two simultaneously at another apartment's parking garage door...and the hot dogs sticking sideways in place.
Myself, driving home and thinking a wino was sleeping in the floral arrangement in front of my building, only to discover it was ol Filth himself, having some trouble standing up.
Some of those thoughts, and others, were clouding me as I parked and walked inside. The Ralphs had now installed a giant mural reading "Rock n Roll" leaning into this experience, and had altered the lighting to match. Both times, there I was in a room off a very small pharmacy, getting a shot to help bring my immediate society somewhat closer to the old days. And I'm thankful. As a location, it's large, it has a lot, and it's a touch dumpy. That's a rather good summary of where I lived that year and the neighborhood in general.
In my youth, once I had the chance I altered between my living area surrounded by niceties and wanting to be where the action is...because at that price, I could only have 1 or the other. It wasn't much longer I realized that you should aim more toward the former than the latter...but when hitting the town is your default plans, why would you think otherwise?
