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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) |