In the ‘Hood

LA/XC-5 DAYS TWELVE, THIRTEEN, AND FOURTEEN: POSTING FROM SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA

Weather: Absolutely perfect.  Always.

“Put it in the books!” as Howie Rose would say on New York radio . . . only this time that goes for the Mets whole season.  A deliriously optimistic — and appropriately loud (LET’S GO METS!  LET’S GO METS!) crowd of NY ex-pats and plain old visitors from the New York area (that would be us) gathered Wednesday night at West 4th and Jane, the all-Mets-all-the-time Santa

Monica sports bar, ready to bust loose.  But . . . not this time.  Madison Bumgarner saw to that, shutting out the Metsies 3-0, and the Mets diehards were forced to watch the Giants celebrate in our house.  Silver linings?  1.  We had great, super-hot wings, and lotsa fun with our friends’ Hal and Carole’s son Greg, now a

Venice Beach local, and his gf Emily; 2. Now I can concentrate full-time on football, where it appears the J-E-T-S could really use my help.

And where was my little red duck dog during all this excitement?  Hanging with his posse at Rover, his new favorite Dog Hotel and Spa, right smack next to the Pacific Street dog park in Santa Monica.  (This block seems to be the nexus of all our domestic needs in these parts: dog park, dog-sitting, our market, The Doves — my hair-and-beard-trim stop here in Santa Monica — and, of course, Bubble Beach laundry.)  Kemba heard about Rover from his pal Einstein, a chihuahua-terrier mix at Joslyn Dog Park, K’s other spot.  (In fact, we understand Einstein will be getting a

complimentary stay, thanks to the referral.)  Just as a teaser:  This place has a “Presidential Suite” for dogs who want to spend the night in luxury!  Cush-y!  But here’s the beauty part: It’s cheap!  I guarantee you’ll be hearing more about Rover, since Kemba’s planning to stay there when we head over to the Coliseum for the USC-Colorado game shortly — and maybe a few other times as well.

Yup, really getting to know the ‘hood

better on this extended stay . . . even down to dog park politics.  While the duck dog and I have been spending most of our time at Pacific Street, I happened to mention to two regulars there that we also visit Joslyn Dog Park on occasion — and I very clearly got the stink eye from them.  “Too clique-y” I was told, matter-of-factly.

Carol and I continued our neighborhood familiarization tour Thursday with a three-hour bike ride (rented from Bike & Skate, just oceanward of the Loews), mostly along the beach, but also inland, starting from the Santa Monica pier, through Venice Beach, Marina del Rey, and then back again.  BEST NEW SIGHT: The Marina (of del Rey); MOST BEAUTIFUL SETTING: The canals of Venice (no, really); MOST IMPORTANT DISCOVERY: A new sports bar for us right on Venice Beach

— the Sidewalk Cafe & Sports Bar.  Gonna try it for Jets vs. Steelers on Sunday, which could be ugly . . .  FINALLY MADE IT TO: The Venice Ale House.  Have passed by at least a thousand times on runs.  (Okay, maybe 50.)  Have always wanted to stop in.  (Now that I think of it, maybe I already have . . .)  Anyway, had a local ale and the best bruschetta ev-er.  Def gonna be a go-to.  At the very least, gotta get back there for a souvenir tee.

Which reminds me of another “discovery” earlier this week:  Manhattan Beach.  Though Robby went to school in these parts for four years, and though he and his crew apparently spent more time in Manhattan Beach than they

ever did in class at USC, Carol and I had, shockingly, never been to this beach town.  On a quick drive-through, it looked pretty damned appealing, and we got the best seat in the house for lunch on the open-air balcony at The Strand, overlooking Manhattan Beach Boulevard and the Pacific Ocean.  Best cheese & charcuterie plate ev-er.  (See “bruschetta,” above.)

And finally:  A shout-out to oldest son Matt . . . and to Lady Gaga.  Since the middle of September I’ve been sitting on a secret, something I kind of suck at, and now that the thing has gone public, I finally don’t have to be nervous anymore.  (I

haven’t spoken to anyone in three weeks, for fear of blowing it.)  I’m guessing that at least a few of you by now have heard about the frenzy Wednesday night in Nashville when Lady Gaga pulled off an unannounced drop-in gig at the Five Spot, a tiny Music City hole-in-the-wall, to kick off her Dive Bar Tour in support of Joanne, her soon-to-be-released album.  (When the mayor of Nashville got wind of it a few hours in advance, even she was begging for admission.)  Matt’s agency does the advertising for Bud Light, the tour’s major sponsor, and — dad-brag-alert! — Matt was a big-time player on the conception and execution of this rollout.  While I’m still not authorized  to disclose the next two stops on Gaga’s tour, I’ve made it pretty clear to my son that he’d better be getting me into at least one of them.   As, one town at a time, I continue to transform LA/XC-5 into the 2016 Live Music Tour.

And speaking of . . . yesterday it was back into the Mojave for “Oldchella,” “Alter Cocker-mont,” or, more generously, “Desert Trip” — the festival’s official name — to see the Rolling f—– Stones!!!  (I know, it’s only Rock ‘N Roll, but I like it.)   As well as the Stones’ opening act — some guy named Dylan.   Didn’t make it back to Santa Monica till almost 4AM, so review will have to wait till next post, since getting ready now to head off to USC vs. Colorado at the Coliseum . . .

I PLAN TO POST AS CLOSE TO DAILY AS POSSIBLE WHILE KEMBA AND I ARE ON THE ROAD. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY: MAN PLANS, GOD LAUGHS. OH, AND BTW, YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM.