Real jaw bones, oodles of dead baby dolls, psycho clowns, vomit videos, plus portraits of Ed Gein and Ted Bundy were among the many horrors integrated into the artwork at Saturday’s Carniverous Delights party on Stoner Ave. in West LA. To the spun tunes of Birthday Party, Fields of Nephlim, Bauhaus, and a live house band, guests in costume and goth finery chatted, patronized, and stuffed their gourds on bitches brew and black bat cheese.

Good times were had by all, and we look forward to the opening of curator Neil Simon Poyuzina’s upcoming gallery downtown as he knows how to throw a good show together to be sure…and his gorgeous wife is apparently the Martha Stewart of the macabre for the treats she had on display.

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Los Angeles ~ CA

16618 Hawthorne Blvd. ~ Lawndale, CA 90260 ~ 310-371-3304 (TACO Map)

The Hut is like a beacon leading sailors to safe harbour. Or it could be a lighthouse warning the faint hearted away from its craggy, rock strewn waters. When setting anchor in the South Bay, this is a welcoming retreat- a place to settle down your weary bones and toss back a cold draft.

The Hut showcases classic diversions such as the original “Pin Bot” pinball game, a pool table, juke box, darts, and burly bartenders serving beer on coasters. Liquor has been flowing here since the 1930s. It began as a small bar tucked in the back of an auto mechanic shop. How else can you explain the affordable price of a beer- $2.00 drafts?!

I reminisce about old Chicago bars tucked inside liquor stores serving $2.00 bottles of Old Style. The surrounding area has seen a number of clubs and dance halls come and go over the years, but The Hut is here to stay. Shown below are two extra large glasses, available by special request, of the only beer on tap, Budweiser.

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Los Angeles ~ CA

Melrose Blvd. ~ West Hollywood

TACO’s work was cut out for us at the abandoned Sunset Pacific Hotel last Saturday where street-artists’ posters had taken over like wild roots at Ankor Wat. Posters hung all over the place while rockin’ bands like Eagle and Talon and skilled DJ Troma 1 did their thing, keeping the costumed and faded crowd skanking and banging their cabesas.

Each mystery room of the 3rd Floor had an installation or happening, from a headhunter’s jungle featuring a blood-red lake to live music, plus tons of new art by Justin Kees, Buff Monster, Branded, Project Rabbit, ENIK ONE, Urban Medium, Absent, Bunny Kitty, and many others whose work we love and respect. The drinks were strong (but expensive!) and the creepy old silent films kept us in our haunted mood. The hotel is being knocked down to make room for a yuppier boutique hotel called The Silverlake (baaarf!), but still might make a nice place to sleep in the present if your crew needs a dusty, asbestosed corner to crash in for a night or two.

While gracious MC Julio did his best Tony Montana and made everybody welcome, a few bottles and cans flew from the rafters, narrowly missing masked and cowled heads. Sticky Rick, total stud of the sticker world, presented his exhibit Hallow Wheat Paste featuring Shepard Fairey, Kofi, Robbie Conal, Seizer, Skull Phone, 20 Mg, and mucho mucho mas. We were also introduced to Danny Venemous, who is a cool dude.

The event was put together by the folks from Brite Spot, Malo, CD13, Clearwater Productions, and others to help raise money for Built, which supports transitional housing for youth, among other things. So much talent was on display and fortunately there were no tragic balcony collapses or lockjaw contracted during this creative Halloween Party. Even surrounded by images of death, Art=Life!!

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Hollywood Forever ~ Hollywood

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