Public Restrooms @ Washington Blvd. & the sand

North Hollywood ~ CA

Hollywood ~ CA

(Continued)

La Playita ~ 3306 Lincoln Blvd. Venice, CA 90026 ~ (310) 452-0090

I know I’ve got a bad reputation, and isn’t just talk. I’m guilty as charged of treating some of these taco stands and taco trucks out here like little taco hoes; ripping off their layers, slurping up their tender vittles, bailing, and never stopping by to say hello again. It’s just the way players play. All day. Everyday, in fact.

But you will find me fucking with La Playita (formerly dubbed with the catchy name Mariscos Guillen) regularly. You will. In fact, hey, I’m there right now, for all you know…and where are you? Not at la Playita, I see. Or do I?

So yeah, these guys do tacos right. Really right. They are not fudging around with two abuelas in the back stirring a single pot or some ex-con on a skillet. No, they’ve got like six dudes in there getting the deliciousness done, working like God is watching. You know this joint if you’ve ever cruised on Lincoln. A giant Seizer head and a Watch Out graffito mark the spot. La Playita is typically slammed from the moment 11AM shows its face, but is best before closing when the crowd is thin and it’s just you and traffic and the last lifeguard on duty at this lil’ beach.

What’s really popular here is sea critters; giant styrofoam cups of watery, fresh pulpo, abalone, shrimp, and crab, which you can get mixed together in a campechana or “cocktail,” and topped with aguacate. They taste deeply of the sea and leave you feeling Herculean, with all that Poseidon-provided protein. These, and the flat, piled-on tostadas with seafood ceviche, are what really gets the crowd pumped.

(Pastor Tostada)

But look on high a second. We’re not named Ceviche or Tostada. So how are them tacos? Flawless. And nicely sized. I don’t think I’ve ever had a mediocre taco here in my life. The plump shrimp pop with juice and flavor in the mouth, with just a lite dressing of some cilantro and tomatillo sauce. Tapatio really makes it shine, the shrimp maintaining firm composure, almost a little sweet in their freshness. The fish tacos also kick ass, and are kind of honeyed on the palate, the tiny cubes of fish smothered in a reddish sauce that seems to caramelize the tiny shingles of fish. It’s like someone was playing Tetris with the fish cubes and decided to just glue it all together hastily at the end with sweet sauce. Uh, very good, in other words.

(Carnitas)

Pastor, asada and carnitas are all very great here, just the way I like them and maybe not reaching orgasm status, but this is one of the most dependable spots I’ve found for fantastic versions of all three, especially out West. The carnitas is moist and shredded, pastor is sublimely chewy, and asada is juicy. The tostadas also kick major ass. It’s basically a taco, but open-faced and on a crispy tortilla, the soft fillings mixing nicely with the CRUNCH!!!!! I usually leave the buche and cabesa alone, but I bet they rule too.

(The fish)

The one beef I have about La Playita isn’t with the eatery itself. With all these different people standing around waiting for and eating tacos, there should be lively discussions and peals of laughter echoing to the sea, but everyone kind of just stands there and mean-mugs each other instead. Certainly, one of the city’s many tragedies in inter-connectedness.

So while not my taco bottom bitch (you know who you are, babygirl), La Playita and I will continue our romance as long as she stays delicious and I stay addicted to her good, cheap eats.

Los Angeles ~ CA

The South LA chapter of the Old Memories Car Club held a Holiday Toy Drive Sunday, December 16th, at Frisco’s Burger in Downey.

Los Angeles ~ CA

South Central ~ CA 

(Continued)

PEEL HERE 2007 @ The Ghetto Mansion

Words by Erick Huerta. Photos by Frankiely.

There’s a certain vibe at the Peel Here sticker shows. It’s a combination of the fantastic art posted all over the walls, artists meeting each other for the first time and seeing the faces behind the stickers, and of course the tacos and alcohol. Above all the commotion, music, and food, the heart of Peel Here shows itself in the camaraderie between veterans and newcomers, as well as first time admirers.

When I asked host ‘Sticky’ Rick’ to explain the meaning of the show, now in its third year, he said, “It’s not about who you are, and I stressed that. ‘Why am I not on the flier?’ Well, the same reason you’re not in the show. It’s not about YOU, so get the fuck over yourself. It’s about culture. I’m not in this for the money and that’s the God-honest truth. There’s history and diversity, and that’s what I love about Peel Here. [People] are putting art on something that’s temporary, but it’s still art. This is what I like. Once like minded people get together, you can do anything.”

The great Sticky Rick, center.

When asked about the vibe of the show and the camaraderie between everyone, Rick described the nature of the artwork, “There’s nothing in here that’s threatening to each other.” He said that in the sticker community, there’s no competition to be better than anyone else or to cross someone out because you don’t like their work. Kids who grew up admiring their favorite artist have a chance to be on the same level as them at the show.

Artist MAS said it’s all about, “Respect. In this community, it’s all love. You meet other artists and you tell them ‘Hey, I dig what you’re doing. Let me have some of your stuff and I’ll give you some of mine.’ It’s all love because everyone wants to expand. It’s a community.” MAS also thanked Rick for hosting the event. “Big ups to Rick. He has people in the show who are big names next to guys who are coming up. And he’s giving them a place where everyone is the same and equal.”

(RTH Crew COMBO)

(Continued)

Before…

After.

(Continued)