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| Pat checking out a couple of cats on Sunset Boulevard - accessories for his minimalist living room perhaps? |
All to quickly our first day in L.A. turned into evening. While we were walking down Sunset Boulevard, taking in all the sights, sounds and vibes, a young man emerged out of the darkness of the Whiskey A Go Go and offered us free tickets. Pat had stopped in front of the legendary building that had seen performances of the like of Jimi Hendrix and Cream and remarked "This is the place Ron where some of the greatest rock performers got their start" (apologies to Pat here, I'm paraphrasing). I wasn't quite as impressed as Pat was (I'm more of a Universal Studios Ride kind of fan than the grungy beginnings of dead rock stars).
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| Twilight Time on Sunset Strip, Hollywood, CA - our first day was rapidly coming to an end |
As I said, a T-shirted young man asked Pat "Would you like a couple of free tickets for tonight?" Hey, we're tourists right? Free? Right? What's not to like? (Well, there was a catch which I will tell you about later. There is always catch isn't there?)
So Pat took of the proffered tickets and we strolled back the several blocks in the twilight to our digs back at the Hollywood Bed and Breakfast. Time to relax a bit, freshen up and plan our Big Night on the Town.
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| Pat relaxing with his iPhone (of course) |
What? No wonder we got free tickets. Here I'm expecting Cream. Instead we're getting a pale knock off of Judy Collins. Check out her Muck Lucks. Pitiful. Sad. Disappointing.
I buy drinks for both of us. Expensive (of course). There are only about six people in the building and all of us have that reflected glow on our downturned faces as we're checking our smart phones for e-mails and Facebook updates. Exciting.
Finally the
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| Pat's getting worked up now. His adrenalin is flowing. I have the Universal Studio rides and Pat has his band set up excitement. |
We settled in some good seat, ready to enjoy the sights and sounds of Whiskey A Go Go entertainment. We were just getting our groove on when one of the T-shirted bouncers came over and told me "You know there is a minimum of $100 cover for either food or drink to sit here." Uh huh. So that was the "free ticket" deal? Well, I do spend like a drunken sailor at times but not tonight. The band playing on the platform was cool and I was grooving to the beat but for $100? I don't think so. So Pat and I said "Thank you" and made an ignominious retreat into the street. Tourists we are and tourist we will always be. I had hoped to hear some live music while in L.A. but it was not to be, at least at $100 a pop.
No problem though. We were in Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard, what's not to like? Thus we spent the rest of the evening taking a balmy, summer like stroll down this fabled boulevard, soaking up all the color and cacophony that is one of the most famous roads in the world.
Later on we stopped in the Coffee Bean and I had my latte and Pat had his no sugar, dirty dishrag left in the pot bitter coffee. Then we returned to our temporary abode on Hollywood Boulevard, a day well spent.
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| Pat enjoying a little down time before putting our first day in L.A. to an end. You gotta know that Pat LOVED all the curtains in our room (he has none at his minimalist palace in Toronto) |
11 comments:
Next time, you'll have to train Pat to take some photos of you with your camera so you can post them onto your blog - haha! He's a handsome fella and all, but it'd be nice to see a photo of Ron every once in a while too!!
~ Canuck
These posts are bringing it all to life, Ron.
I might have guessed that Whiskey-a-Go-Go sounded too good to be true. I'd have been afraid that they might have threatened to break a leg or two if the pair of you didn't cough up. I'd have been back on the street very relieved to be still 'intact'.
NOTHING is free in Los Angeles, as you learned! But you have to know how to play it right. Take the freebie, and then scram before you have to buy anything.
Free should be free. Still sounds like a fun adventure.
David,
The Whiskey A Go Go was still fun. The bouncer was actually very nice, not threatening at all or at least in THAT way. We understood and left . . . . intact.
Ron
Tony,
Excellent advice. We should have known there was a catch to those "free" tickets. That was too good to be true.
Ron
Ray,
We enjoyed our experience at the Whiskey A Go Go, short though it was. We got to Experience it. Pat is more interested in these venues than I am. I would have preferred to go through those Paramount gates of take the Universal Tour but of course they cost too. As Tony says, NOTHING is free in L.A. I found that out (expensive vacation) but well worth it to me.
Ron
Canuck,
I thought that too but the only pictures with me in it are selfless (Pat's in them too). I think there are two pictures that I asked someone else to take of us that weren't selfless. I think Pat has some pictures with me alone in them but I don't know if he erased them (he's a minimalist after all) or not. The reason Pat is in so many of my pictures is that I now prefer to have someone one know in my generic scenic photos instead of no one. I've come to this conclusion after reviewing many of my older photos of just scenes with no "personalization" in them. Especially my black and white photos of New York City which I took when I was a 13 year old newspaper boy. Just scenes of the city, no individuals like the other newsboys I was with nor of course of me. Most of the pictures I have of me I've asked someone to take those photos and of course they usually complain, including Bill. I wouldn't complain but most people find having to ask them to take photos of you a chore. I had the same experience with my friend Bob C. when we hung around together for a few years, including the 2009 March on Washington D.C. Besides, I figure you all have seen enough photos of me. Well, maybe not. I'll see what I can do by asking Pat for his photos. Thanks for your suggestion.
Ron
Enjoying your exploits and look forward to them as your snowed in the next day or two! Also wonder "the Cajun" status I look for an update and say a silent prayer daily!
Roger,
Thankfully, it looks like we're (here in southern Delaware) are going to miss the snow. I've updated "the Cajun" status. Check my latest blog entry.
Ron
Ron - sorry I'm late on this one again. A nice summary. That first day in LA was a terrific start. And it just seemed to keep getting better. It was non stop right to the end. Fantastic holiday!!
Pat
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