u/waltarrrrr

After 35 years, the beloved Highland Park panaderia, Delicias Bakery at 5567 North Figueroa is no more. No official word, but after struggling for several years against the changing tastes of the neighborhood, the bakery that fed generations sits empty, the ovens are cold, and the sweet cinnamon sugar smell that filled the air every morning is gone.

Seven years ago, the owners daughter, Roxanne Sanchez took over the business and tried to adapt to the changing neighborhood by updating the baked goods, explaining the food menu, offering vegan options, and sharing the space with pop-up restaurants. Sadly, all the creative efforts, fundraisers, and relaxed rent in the historic Highland Park Freemason’s Hall was not enough to keep Delicias going. It will be missed.

Soccer fans gather at Sycamore Grove Park in Northeast L.A. for Kick It In The Park to watch Norway defeat Ivory Coast in the World Cup. Nearly a hundred years earlier, thousands gathered here to celebrate Norwegian Independence Day and hear the King of Norway, Olav V speak. (Today, they witnessed the new king of Norway, Erling Haaland score a goal.)

The party at Sycamore Grove continues today with a France Vs Sweden watch party at 2pm, then Mexico vs Ecuador at 6pm. A great day for the passion of the pueblo.

Closed 25 years ago. I appreciate the surviving bell bracket, and how the exterior wall lamps have been bastardized.

The Getty Center is hosting World Cup watch parties through the run of the World Cup during regular open hours with special extended hours on Fridays June 12, 19, 26, and July 3rd going until 9pm, with free parking on those days after 5pm. (Or beat the driving and parking hassle and just go Metro via the 761 Line to the Getty.) The Getty is showing the game on big outdoor screens at Trellis Bar & Lounge, and the Garden Terrace Café. Enjoy world-class soccer and world-class art all for free at The Getty; reservations recommended.

Been several years since I’ve seen these for sale. Tumwater WA.

The California jungle primary brought five pounds of political ads to my doorstep this year. Probably a record. So many candidates posing with folded arms. So many ugly AI generated images and designs. Dark money from outside Republican interests funded a lot of it. Their main target was DSA city councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez (who won outright last last night). The CD1 challengers seem to have a lot of money for ads this year and their mailers and door hangers make up the bulk of the hoard.

In second place for political ads is Sara Hernandez who is running for State Senator to replace termed-out Maria Durazo in the 26th District. Her team managed to produce a dozen different ads with each one featuring Hernandez in a different pose. No oven mitts this year, but Sara Hernandez did send a anti-I.C.E. whistle, which is nice except for the paper cut I got trying to retrieve it from the envelope.

In third for most ads was the Yes on ER campaign. (Which is currently failing in the vote count.) In fourth place is the Maria Elena Durazo campaign for LA County Supervisor. I liked the colored paper note cards, a nice touch. In fifth place is the Marrisa Roy campaign for LA City Attorney. No ads from her General Election challenger, John McKinney (I'm sure he will rectify that soon enough). Other ads include Rivas for School Board, Steyer for Governor, Gomez for Congress, Bass for Mayor, Kenneth Mejia for City Controller, Jane Kim for Insurance Commissioner, and assorted PAC recommendations.

I wish we could have a community bonfire at Dockweiler Beach to burn it all. It would be cathartic. But the AQMD would probably frown on that. All those exotic inks burning up and filling the air with toxic smoke. With the amount of ads distributed across the region, the fire would likely be so large it would shut down flights taking off from adjacent LAX. So into the recycling bin they will go.

8 pages, 39 questions, voting drop boxes here: https://locator.lavote.gov/locations/vbm?id=4338&culture=en

On Saturday morning dozens of contestants gathered at Grand Park for what is probably the funnest campaign event of the season: The Mejia Corgi Quest!

Our Los Angeles City Controller, Kenneth Mejia is running for his second and final term this year, and being the only Certified Public Accountant to ever be elected Controller, you would think he would be uptight and all business; but Mejia loves his job and brings fun into informing the public about how their tax dollars are being used. Case in point: A scavenger hunt based on local examples of his many City Budget publications.

In true Mejia style, the scavenger hunt took some genuine internet sleuthing via the city’s controller website and a map.

The first part was relatively easy: A photo with Kenneth, a photo with a dog, a photo of a public restroom, a photo of a water fountain. (Easy because we were in a county park.)

But then it got more challenging: Who donated $5.5M to Mejia’s opponent? Take a photo of an intersection where a speed camera is going to be installed. Take a photo of an intersection that is one of the top 100 places where parking tickets are issued in the city. What is the City Budget for FY 26-27? How much was spent of the $1B budgeted for homelessness? Take a photo of what costs the city $3000 / hour to operate. Take a photo of an apartment with 30 housing violation cases. Take a photo of an apartment building with 300 eviction notices. Take a photo of broken sidewalks and potholes and faded red curbs. All this to be done in 90 minutes.

Only one team managed to fulfill every quest by splitting up and driving around town to the more far-flung sites. But everyone there left a winner and better informed about our city. I’m inspired to start a running club that does Saturday morning runs through different neighborhoods and finds more examples of City spending and inefficiency.

The biggest discovery on the day’s adventure is that Mejia’s challenger, Zach Sokoloff is not an accountant, but a real estate executive from Holmby Hills who’s mother has donated $5.5 million to help him get elected. This race for City Controller is basically the story of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure where Kenneth is Pee-wee Herman, and Zach Sokoloff is Francis Buxton who really wants Pee-wee’s bike; but in this case it is Kenneth’s office chair at City Hall. Don’t let Francis get away with it. On June 2nd, let’s keep the people’s candidate in office, and keep the entitled monied class out of City Hall.

It’s hard to walk by the World Cup installation at Grand Park without singing the 3252 chant.

Johnie’s Coffee Shop at Wilshire and Fairfax is open to the public again thanks to Gary Baseman’s newest show, ‘Off The Menu.’

Baseman celebrates the history of Los Angeles’ dining culture with an exhibition of over 40 drawings made on actual menus from local restaurants. The menu works are “action drawings” that Baseman made as he dined at restaurants such as, El Coyote, Musso & Frank’s, Canter’s, Farm House Kitchen, Max & Helen’s, Bub & Grandma’s, and Fanny’s among many others.

Baseman’s drawings are delightful, but the real treat is being able to walk inside of Johnie’s. Unless you came by when it was Bernie's Coffee Shop to promote Bernie Sanders presidential campaign in 2016, or any of the activations by Community Solidarity Project over the past 10 years, the space has largely been closed to the public since 2000 when Johnie’s Coffee Shop went out of business after 34 years. The Googie diner building was built as Romeo’s in 1956 by Armét & Davis, is currently owned by the Gold family of 99¢ Store fame, and they do not have plans for this passively-preserved building on a highly-desirable piece of property, so after this show it could close for another 26 years.

This diner has been in dozens of movies. Miracle Mile, American History X, City of Angeles, Reservoir Dogs, and The Big Lebowski were all filmed here. Now is your chance to sit where The Dude and Walter sat and have a conversation about how easy it is to get a severed toe in Los Angeles.

Off The Menu runs Thursday to Sunday, Noon to 7pm, through June 14th.

Elevation has no effect on these guys.