Venice Beach ~ California

From the AP:

A community of futuristic domes once billed as a utopian refuge from life on the streets is being dismantled and auctioned online.
So ends Dome Village - activist Ted Hayes’ model of a self-governed, self-sufficient society on a downtown lot visited by celebrities but largely unnoticed by thousands of commuters who buzz past on a nearby freeway.

The unceremonious end doesn’t reflect the sadness of residents who must leave by October. On a recent sunny afternoon, about a dozen lounged in beach chairs as they took a break from packing.

“We have such a family here,” said Graham Foster, 51, a former nightclub manager who arrived three years ago after living several months in a battered motor home. “Closing down is almost like an explosion.”

When Hayes founded Dome Village 13 years ago, he envisioned it as a cooperative of 30 homeless people working and living together, and counseling each other through tough times. Most of the domes were homes for individuals or families, while others served community purposes such as men’s and women’s washrooms.

The domes are for sale on eBay starting at $3,000.

10937 Burbank Blvd. @ Craner Ave. ~ North Hollywood, CA 91601 ~ (818) 760-9798 (TACO Map)

Rather than hit up a movie for more than twice the price, I recommend visiting Rawhide on a lazy Sunday afternoon in North Hollywood. At 3:30PM every Sunday there are country line dance lessons offered. Yes, even on the Sunday when Sunset Junction was going down over in Silver Lake. In addition to dance lessons, with a $5 cover you are given two tickets for free drinks or the option of opening a beer or soda “bust” with said tickets. This means that with an additional $4, you get the unlimited beer or soda of your choice.

The Texas-twanged bartender then says ‘Here ya’ go‘ and hands you a black Sharpie with a nifty little plastic cup for refills. There are also small green buckets filled with fresh popcorn stationed on top of barrels throughout the bar. These become hot spots for bumping hands with cute boys in farmhand outfits. As for other meeting points, the outdoor patio is a good place for Marlboro Men-type cowboy smokers as well as Marlboro Men fans, too…

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We love Flickr and several of you have asked for a Taco group and pool. Well, here it is: http://www.flickr.com/groups/lataco/ Please join the group, submit photos, have fun and eat tacos!

photo by John Wise

From yesterday’s LA Times:

On Avalon Street in Echo Park, Victoria Villicano is known as a devoted mother who is often seen behind the wheel of her SUV, driving her two teenage sons to stores and sporting events.

But Los Angeles Police Department detectives say the 42-year-old woman also drove a five-member tagging crew (HIV), including her two children, around Silver Lake and Echo Park, stopping long enough for the group to jump out and vandalize…

We remember when Cobrasnake was a struggling kid with a dream, some wheatpaste, a camera, and a website. Now he’s the toast of the world’s hipsters, and drunken underage girls throw their panties at him from their convertible BMWs on Sunset. In those days he only had one or two headbands, unlike now when he revealed his closet of 5,000 vintage ‘bands on MTV Cribs. In any case, Mark is a Los Angeles fixture, documenting parties and late night adventure all over the world.

So, Cobrasnake, what’s your favorite taco?

“El Coyote on Beverly. See above.”