Our 'Hood, Our Evening, Our Weekend

Our neighborhood is in the The LA Times! This is Chango, the coffee house that's down the block from our house and the place where we saw the Free Fruit map of Echo Park that listed our house. Crazy!

Anyway, LA Times is saying that it's the new up and coming neighborhood, mixing ethnically diverse people (like myself) with hipsters, artists, and gays (like Steve... well, okay, and me. Does that make me a double minority?). It's crazy because when Steve and I first drove into the neighborhood we could feel it was a really special place, loved that it was close to downtown, AND it was affordable. Now it's hip. I think this is the first time in our lives when we've been on the pulse.

Speaking of the pulse, last night we went to the opening of Memphis, this new restaurant in Hollywood owned by the Dolce Group (Dolce, Bella, Geisha House, etc.). I don't have photos yet, but it's located in this beautiful old Victorian House that has survived all the development in Hollywood. It was abandoned forever and these guys have restored it. The building is gorgeous and the seating limited, meaning this will be one of the toughest spots to hit in LA by January. But the party was insanely fun and we hung out with Sid Krofft of Sid & Marty Krofft fame (this is him on the left with brother Marty).

Normally Steve and I scour these parties for celebs we can talk about, take pictures of, etc., but as soon as Sid walked in it was all over. Steve actually met him at the gym a couple years ago, and the two hit it off and always chat when they see one another, though now that Steve is at a new gym they haven't seen one another in a while. I met Sid through that connection, and he's just such a great person to speak with. He's been around, knows the stories and the people, and is truly up on what's what in Hollywood today. But sometimes I just want to grab him and shout, "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW IMPORTANT YOU WERE TO MY LIFE?"

Seriously, I know the songs to the shows, I used to pretend I was on Living Island with Freddie the Flute, wanted to rock out with the Bugaloos, and I definitely fought crime alongside Electra Woman and Dyna Girl. I attribute much of my love for comics, fantasy, and my drive to become a writer to this man's programs. But of course I don't say that. Instead, we chat about normal stuff and every now and then I'll ask how the movie remakes are going, but that's' it.

Oh, except for last night when Steve and I went back to our car and ran into him a second time on the street corner and I grabbed him in a bear hug. I think I may have had one too many vodka cranberries. Yikes!

So what's on our agenda for this weekend?

Well, I can tell you where Steve and I are NOT going. Even when I was a young buck and frequenting the hard party scene I couldn't quite fathom these underwear parties. All I can imagine are sweaty bellies, saggy butts, and droopy drawers. Trust me when I say that the porn star in this picture (Jason Hawke, if you must know) will most likely not be there (that's what you get for doing porn and signing a photo release that allows your bum to pop up everywhere for time immortal... including on blogs.

This party is also being held at The Factory Nightclub. Does anyone go there anymore? Maybe for Club 1980s (Oh, remember the days of $1 margaritas until midnight, leaving at 2am, and somehow going to work the next morning fresh as a daisy...?). But Saturdays at The Factory? The club hasn't had any great renovations in years, the reputations of the owners are shot, and the clientele is all Hello Kitty. 'Nuff said.

But where we ARE going to on Saturday is our friend Karianne's birthday party followed by the annual Power Lesbian Christmas party; Karianne is not a lezzie, FYI, they just happen to play things on the same day. We'll have a full report Monday.

Stay safe this weekend, and don't kill anyone. 'Tis the season and all...