After I moved to Los Angeles from New York 20 years in the past, I felt like I had landed in an alternate actuality — a spot the place flowers bloomed year-round and a lightweight drizzle was thought-about a legitimate cause to cancel plans.
I used to be invited to the fortieth birthday celebration of a former soft-core porn star — “My IMDB says I’m 29, and that will never change.” she stated. I went to the launch of a brand new line of canine put on designed by Nicholas Cage’s ex-wife. There I met a pair of busty equivalent twins who had been hawking probably the most saccharine fragrance I’d ever smelled. Ryan Phillippe was an enormous fan, they advised me, batting thick eyelashes.
I might go on. However all of us, if we’ve lived right here for any period of time, have a group of tales that might occur solely on this unusual, sprawling metropolis that’s residence to each the Kardashians and one of many largest unhoused populations in America.
Just a few weeks in the past, we requested readers to share a few of their favourite “only in L.A.” tales and the responses didn’t disappoint. Right here you’ll discover tales of awkward movie star encounters, satisfying overheards and one story of searching for love on a each day commute.
(Kaitlin Brito / For The Occasions)
Overheard at Starbucks
I am going to Starbucks very often, however it’s not for the espresso, which is why I prefer it greatest when it’s crowded. I’m a first-class eavesdropper, and that’s when my possibilities to overhear juicy morsels are greatest.
So I used to be disillusioned the opposite day once I sauntered into my native Starbucks and it was jam-packed simply the best way I prefer it, however the one out there seating was on the patio with one lone occupant, a younger girl.
The percentages of capturing any titillating tidbits weren’t in my favor, however once I took a more in-depth have a look at her my hopes rose.
She flaunted a flaming crimson streak in her lengthy darkish hair, a golden ring in her proper nostril, and each her arms swarmed with jet black tattoos. Her denims? Ripped, in fact. Nearly shredded. Fortunate for me, quickly after I sat down, her cellphone rang. Due to the road noise, she needed to shout into it.
Right here’s what I overheard: “Yes, I just got back from my trip to the Middle East. Yes, it was eventful. What? What happened? What happened was I got gonorrhea in Dubai.”
— Dolores Banerd, Culver Metropolis
The road musician
It was about 8 a.m. once I made a fast go to to the Goal retailer on the Empire Middle in Burbank. I unexpectedly heard stay music as I walked by way of the empty parking zone towards the shop. As I obtained nearer, I noticed a well-dressed man enjoying an uncommon instrument that appeared like a flute however regarded like a clarinet. The music was actually uncommon and, truthfully, form of mesmerizing. I made a psychological observe to tip the person on my approach out.
To my disappointment, the musician was gone once I left the shop, however I discovered him loading his tools into the trunk of a classic brown Mercedes. I approached him and thanked him for his music. I advised him that he‘d really made my day and handed him a $5 bill as a token of appreciation. He thanked me kindly and flashed a megawatt smile.
It was only months later, while listening to Rick Rubin interview him for his podcast, that I realized the man playing the unusual, hypnotic music in that Burbank parking lot was André 3000.
— Amy Chance, Burbank
(Kaitlin Brito / For The Times)
The P.A.
In 2006, having lived in L.A. for a total of three months, I landed a job as an art department runner on a small independent film. First day, first assignment was to drive out to Agoura Hills on Kanan Dume Road and pick up some film negatives. They gave me an address, a Thomas Guide and a coffee order to pick up on my way back to the office.
After an hour’s drive, I pulled as much as a big, gated, cliffside residence. I lowered my window to buzz the intercom and was stunned to listen to loud techno coming from the home. As I confirmed that I used to be certainly on the appropriate deal with, the voice on the intercom casually stated: “We’ve been expecting you, Andrew. What took so long?”
“Sorry, traffic was crazy,” I mumbled.
“No worries, park by the open garage, Andrew.” Once more with the utilizing my identify factor. So bizarre.
I parked the place instructed, obtained out of the automotive and observed a digicam crew recording one thing in a nook of the storage. “Definitely at the right place,” I assumed. As I approached, I used to be surprised to find the crew was recording two individuals — adults, for certain — having intercourse.
Beet crimson and embarrassed, I turned away. All of a sudden, I heard an empathizing chuckle coming my approach. The form of chuckle that claims, “Ah, that’s cute.” Approaching me was this shirtless, floral board short-wearing surfer dude. He knowledgeable me that this was his “porn production pad” however that he really lived in Malibu.
I adopted him by way of this labyrinth of a home, passing by varied different scenes in course of in addition to a few nonetheless shoots. It was hilarious to me how shortly I went from utter shock to feeling like this was enterprise as ordinary.
He gave me the negatives; and sure, it was extra porn. He insisted that I look by way of them to substantiate that they had been what “we” had been searching for. I advised him that I hadn’t a clue what “we” had been searching for and that he must discuss to my boss.
“No problem,” he stated, “have him call me after he takes a look at the goods.” I returned to my automotive and casually observed that the scene was nonetheless occurring within the storage.
I pulled out my flip cellphone, speed-dialed residence and stated, “Mom, you are not going believe what just happened….”
— Andrew Birdzell, Glendale
Spongebob Oops-pants
In the course of the holidays in 2012, my household attended a Christmas social gathering on the Pretend Gallery. My mother and father launched me to their buddy who requested me if I appreciated “SpongeBob [SquarePants].” I stated I assumed it was silly and wasn’t humorous. Later, my dad requested me if I knew that their buddy was Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob. I didn’t. In my protection, I used to be solely 11. In keeping with my mother and father, Tom, a minimum of, discovered my brutal honesty amusing.
— Millie Rayner, North Hollywood
(Kaitlin Brito / For The Occasions)
Protected within the colony
Within the early ’80s I used to be working two jobs simply to pay lease. I had just lately returned from a hostel backpacking journey to Europe the place I‘d seen and fallen in love with the art of Kandinsky, Miró, etc.
I had recently met a young friend through work in L.A. who told me that his parents were away and that he didn’t need to be alone at their seaside home. Would I like to come back over?
I leaped on the alternative to flee my nonair-conditioned studio in Hollywood. I jumped into my orange Vega and drove out to Malibu. His mother and father’ residence was within the Colony. I finished on the guard gate (he had forgotten to say that) and advised the guard who I used to be visiting. Though he was doubtful, I batted my eyelashes a number of instances and he let me by way of. I drove by the properties, mesmerized. The ocean — it was like an image.
I parked and knocked on the very tall door. No reply. I attempted the bell. No reply. So I turned the knob and gingerly walked in. To the best was the lounge and over the large fire was [a painting of] a Bull by Marc Chagall.
My buddy got here in from the patio (replete with a pool) to greet me. I stammered: “Is this the original?” He wasn’t charmed however graciously stated, “Yes.”
He took me on a tour of the [art in the] home — Picassos, Moore, and many others. I advised him he actually ought to maintain the door locked. I’m certain he thought I used to be an ingrate however stated they by no means locked their door — it was the Colony.
— Amy Gray, Toluca Lake
(Kaitlin Brito / For The Occasions)
Within the valley of the dolls
I had a buddy whose buddy labored on a TV present that was one of the crucial common on the time. Not lengthy earlier than, I had moved to L.A., and it appeared like a spot the place something was attainable. So when she stated she needed to set me up with the very well-known comic who was the star of the TV present on which her buddy labored, I assumed, “Why not?”
At a sports activities bar within the Valley the place the solid and crew frolicked after they filmed the present, I met the well-known comic. We hit it off. He requested me if I needed to exit a while. I stated certain. What was I going to do, say no?
For our first date, we went bowling. Afterward, we headed to his home within the Hollywood Hills. At a sure level, the well-known comic defined to me that he owned 4 high-end, life-size love dolls. Once we arrived at his place, I discovered these dolls, which value 1000’s of {dollars} apiece, seated at varied areas round his residence.
He went to seize us some beers from the kitchen, and I took a seat subsequent to one of many dolls on the couch. Its silicone tongue was protruding between its lips, and I couldn’t resist pulling on it, and it got here out in my hand. Fortunately, I used to be capable of get the tongue again within the doll’s mouth earlier than the well-known comic returned with our beers.
After that, the well-known comic and I dated for a number of months, and I even noticed him play stay in Vegas, watching from the wings as he labored the group. However in the long run, he ghosted me. I don’t know what turned of his love dolls.
— Susannah Breslin, Burbank
What film had been you in once more?
I’m a Minneapolis native and have lived in L.A. for 34 years. Like all transplanted Angelenos, internet hosting out-of-town household is a ceremony of passage and an effective way to expertise town. After consuming dinner with my oldest brother and his grownup son from Minnesota on the Beverly Wilshire Resort, I lighted a cigarette within the alleyway whereas ready for the valet.
A person throughout the drive signaled to me if he might bum a cigarette. As he approached me, he regarded acquainted. I stated, “Do I know you?”
He smiled. “I’m a C-list actor.”
My nephew walked over and exclaimed, “You’re Ray Liotta. I know you from the movies.”
Ray chuckled, “Yeah, name one.”
My brother then came visiting and we laughed collectively however couldn’t keep in mind one film identify for him. Ray requested me to mild his borrowed cigarette and gleefully pointed his finger at us, and with a large smile proclaimed, “See!”
— Joseph Neeb, Sylmar
On-ramp relationship
— Paula Olson, Laguna Seaside
(Kaitlin Brito / For The Occasions)
An L.A. flower
I used to be in downtown Los Angeles and a younger girl who was seemingly intoxicated and unhoused was dancing round on the street with a bouquet of flowers cradled in her arms. She pirouetted and handed me a single flower. I used to be gracious in accepting however was form of at a loss when it comes to begrudgingly having to hold round a lone flower all night time.
Because the night dragged on, I used to be resigned to only discarding the flower in a receptacle. I used to be at Union Station once I encountered an aged girl who regarded slightly bereft and in want of cheering up. I handed her the hydrangea and she or he instantly smiled and the complete historic, high-ceilinged ticketing concourse lighted up 1,000 watts.
I discovered the subsequent day that she was the particular visitor of a screening commemorating the close by bygone Harvey Restaurant, the place she was one of many authentic Harvey Ladies who had purportedly introduced civility and elegance to the American Southwest within the Forties. She talked about what a beautiful shock it was to obtain a random laurel of a single stem. So two very eccentric and kooky encounters with ephemeral only-in-L.A. Angels on a normal ol’ night out downtown.
— Tommy Bui, Pacoima
Food regimen-quake
The Sylmar earthquake of 1971 was a really memorable occasion for me. I used to be thrown out of my mattress in my mother and father’ home in San Fernando. Intensive injury was all over the place. We misplaced energy, water, fuel. Nevertheless, our landline was nonetheless functioning. We obtained a name a number of hours after the preliminary shock. The girl recognized herself as Marlene Dietrich.
My father was an orphan who grew up in Hollywood at his aunt’s home. He went to Hollywood Excessive, the place he met some future celebrities. Later, he obtained a job at Lockheed assembling planes and acquired a home within the Valley.
I did get an opportunity to satisfy her, her husband and daughter a number of months later. They wanted some assist however I didn’t have a lot free time on account of faculty preparation. They appeared like very good individuals and handled us properly, regardless that we had been only a easy working-class household. My mom, nevertheless, by no means appreciated her as a result of she was so “free spirited.”
— Alan Coles, Lengthy Seaside
The Panhandler
Shortly after transferring right here, I used to be approached by a panhandler within the parking storage of the Beverly Middle. His pitch: “Can you help me out? I left my wallet at the recording studio.”
— Kurt Weldon, Winnetka