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Ahem…Check, check, one, two. Justin, can you pull the high end down? I’m still getting some hiss in the stage-left wedge.
Los Angeles is one of the most geographically expansive cities in the world. You could spend a solid hour in the car (traffic not included) and not get from one corner to the other. Daunting? Yes, but worth the headaches for some top-shelf haunts.
I feel compelled to start with my immediate stomping grounds, which is lovely Korea Town, USA. ~ Frankel
1. Taylor’s Steak House - Taylor’s is a 1950s steakhouse in the heart of K-town and is The Real Deal. Like a noir gin joint from the pages of a Raymond Chandler novel, this is where 2 martini lunches were standard fair (if they’re not still). It’s definitely not cheap but it’s worth eating Top Ramen for 99 and one-half days to make it happen.
2. HMS Bounty – Located in the historic Gaylord building, this is undeniably the best bar in the city. Built in the 1920s, it’s another Los Angeles gem that has escaped becoming a Pinkberry. It’s a nautically themed watering hole (HMS = Her Majesty’s Ship) with red vinyl booths, dark paneled walls and a friendly but no bullshit staff. The Bounty clientele is equal parts 1) pale indie kids with bad haircuts and 2) retired Vets and jazz musicians with pickled livers. Where else can you sip a strong mixed drink for $5 while being comforted by Count Basie on the jukebox?
3. Norman’s Rare Guitars - I’m cursed with this affliction of constantly buying, selling and pining for vintage acoustic guitars. Norm’s has been around since the mid-70s and has some truly amazing instruments. 95% of the inventory is out of my league, but sometimes a poor boy just needs to hold a vintage Martin D-28 and pretend it’s possible to be Neil Young.
4. The Apple Pan – In recent years, I have (barely) held down gainful employment on the Westside of town. If there’s one redeeming aspect to this plight, it is close proximity to The Apple Pan. Another old world treasure (sensing a theme here?), this ’40s burger joint has exactly one room, one grill and a horseshoe shaped counter. There are all of 6 things on the menu and you would be a fool to deviate from the Hickory Burger. Also, wars have been fought over less than a slice from one of their homemade pies.
5. New Beverly Cinema - What’s not to love about a run-down revival movie house in the Fairfax District? Formerly an old vaudeville theater, and then a porno theater, The New Bev screens double-feature films that have a common thread (i.e. director, actor). “A Clockwork Orange” and “Dr. Strangelove” on the big screen for $6 is tough to beat. With all the first-run megaplexes in town, I’m delighted that Angelenos still revere Golden Age classics enough to keep this place in business…for now.
Download:
MP3: Frankel :: X Marks The Spot
MP3: Frankel :: Tooth Decay
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Purchase: Frankel – Lullaby For The Passerby ++ ++ eMusic
+ Download Frankel’s album using eMusic’s 25 free MP3 no risk trial offer
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I always love this feature J…next time I’m in L.A., I want you to take me to the HMS Bounty. D1 | Dodge December 19th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Justin, Thanks for turning me on to Frankel. I love the album and haven’t been able to stop listening for a month now. Frankel – thanks for the tips regarding LA and for the great music! keep it up and come up to play norcal.2 | Prada December 19th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Justin – digging the Frankel, thanks. Also gratified to see the return of the Podcast … when it shows up. But! you’re back to your old tricks at the podcast helm: your between-song commentary is totally inaudible. Speak up, man! or use the compressor I’m sure they have in the Little Radio studio… Merry xms, over and out.3 | Staggerlee December 19th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Taylor’s steak house and the HMS Bounty are on my list…and Iive right next to Koreatown. Drinks on me, sometime Justin.4 | dudeasincool December 19th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
I also always love this feature and next time Dodge and I are in LA, I want you to take us to the HMS Bounty. Although I think the HMS Booty would be a better name for it. Nautical, pirates and all.
Love Frankel, thanks for turning me on to him.5 | heather December 20th, 2007 at 10:37 am
[...] Related: Frankel :: Off The Record (Los Angeles, CA) [...]6 | Aquarium Drunkard: Music Blog » Frankel :: Anonymity Is The New Fame June 23rd, 2009 at 3:38 amIt’s basic human psychology, “Yea I hear the world is falling apart, but it’s not happening here. And if it is, it won’t really affect me that much. And if it does, there’s nothing I could have done about it anyway on an individual level, so laissez les bons temps rouler!”

I feel your frustration. I do. But I’ve gotten past the point of blaming people for thinking this way. I’ve adopted a philosophy that my wife introduced me to called Optimistic Nihilism, and while people on this sub tend to poo poo any expression of hope towards our current situation, the overall gist of it is that you accept the fact that life possesses no inherent purpose or meaning, but that fact liberates you and allows you to create your own meaning and purpose. 

I find that while we stare down the barrel of numerous societal-ending guns, it’s been incredibly relieving just focusing on my own little microcosm. Spreading positivity and happiness where I can. For example I started a large flock of chickens over the pandemic. My wife and I don’t have and will never have kids, so it’s allowed me to contribute more resources to my neighborhood. There’s no way we can eat 2 dozen eggs a day, so I put out a little kiosk on my street saying “Free Eggs: take what you need, not what you want”. People look at me like I have two heads when they stop out front of my house to ask if it’s true. I just say, “why not?”.  It’s a minimal drain in our financial resources, and it can yield high returns. Kindness is contagious, after all.

Man that got gushy. Sorry for rambling. 
TLDR: make your immediate community a better place rather than worry about being chicken little. If the sky falls, what can you do about it?NTA in the current situation, but ESH - I'm gonna be honest, your family just sounds like it's full of terrible people. I'd hate to know what your brother's feeling right now, since they're probably going to turn him against you by mentioning you refused to pay, and also the fact he got nothing from his grandfather. I don't know what your relationship with him is like, but the kid has cancer at 15 and he's being thrown in the middle of bullshit family drama on top of that? He's the real victim here, and I'd hope you've at least reached out to him since finding out. If you don't want to help your shitty family, I get that, but at least show support for your brother.A. Divinity is also the subject of religion itself: divinity students are studying theology. But if you're not into religion, don't worry — you can still enjoy divinity, a type of white, creamy fudge made with egg whites that probably goes well with angel food cake.module.exports = WaitGroup;

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In the early 1960s, a couple of dreamers in a small Northwest Colorado ranching town called Steamboat Springs started a ski