This story begins at MiniBar, as so a lot of my Hollywood tales do. Nicely, technically it’s referred to as Lily’s Bar now, however to me it’s going to at all times be MiniBar — the inconspicuous hole-in-the-wall bar discovered contained in the Finest Western — no, wait, the Adler a Hollywood Hills Resort on Franklin Avenue.
It’s the type of place the place you’ll be able to discuss to everybody or nobody, and that’s why I find it irresistible.
Now it goes with out saying that it’s been a tough begin to the brand new yr for us Angelenos. As if the fixed menace to democracy and local weather change-induced fires weren’t sufficient, I additionally discovered myself deep within the loneliness and existential hopelessness that comes with a breakup, one which was initiated by me however nonetheless stung. My ex is an egomaniacal actor who as soon as stated, “I think I’d like you more if you were repped by a reputable agency like CAA.”
So that you’ll perceive my option to drown my sorrows in a grimy martini and Eve Babitz’s “Sex and Rage.”
Regardless of my “talk to no one” intention on this idle Wednesday, I discovered myself distracted by a person sitting on the fringe of the bar throughout from me, writing feverishly on a serviette. I acknowledge that circulate of inspiration, the necessity to get each thought onto any floor doable earlier than it slips away. This fashion drew me in additional than his sharp jaw and glossy hair (he should have an oiling routine), although in hindsight his options had been magnetic, virtually of a unique period. A Marlon Brando-esque gaze that holds a world of ideas.
I sensed us taking a look at one another at completely different occasions, he after I was (pretending to be) deeply engrossed in a chapter, and I when he was scribbling down a thought. I needed so badly to ask him what he was writing however would have needed to yell throughout the bar or plop down subsequent to him. Neither possibility appeared warranted.
After an hour and a second soiled martini, I made a decision it was time to depart and let this man stay a thriller. Simply as I requested for my test, he bought as much as go to the lavatory, and a stroke of inspiration hit me: Why not go away my quantity on a serviette? On the very least he’d respect the vessel by which I selected to put in writing it. In order that’s precisely what I did.
I set it subsequent to his drink, and the bartender gave me a wink, which felt like an excellent omen. I left with a stroke of vitality. I ought to go away my quantity extra usually, I assumed as I walked throughout the parking zone to my automotive.
Then I heard somebody say, “Kelly!” My identify reduce by the spirited air, and I rotated to seek out him standing there. He shrugged his shoulders and requested, “Do you want to go to the Frolic Room?”
He may have stated Mars, and I might have stated sure. Immediately, what lay earlier than me was an evening full of infinite prospects. I hadn’t felt the electrical energy of spontaneity for a very long time.
It seems the Frolic Room was a fast stroll right down to Hollywood Boulevard, in all probability one of many solely occasions I’ve walked from one bar to a different in L.A. He stated he preferred the boldness of leaving my quantity and had needed to do the identical. He informed me his first identify: Vincent. There was quite a lot of silence, but it surely was comfy. And we walked quick.
There have been solely a handful of individuals inside, though the place couldn’t match far more than that anyway, and Vincent guided me straight to the jukebox, hand-in-hand. “Pick a song,” he stated.
I don’t know why, however Billy Joel’s “Vienna” got here to thoughts, maybe as a result of it’s at all times embodied a want to seek out journey on this metropolis and soak the marrow out of life. That prompted Vincent to decide on “Piano Man,” and earlier than I knew it we had been doing photographs of whiskey and pretending the bar was a piano itself, miming the notes with our arms. Everybody joined in.
The entire time I used to be considering, who is that this man? Though I used to be inquisitive about what he did for work, I additionally appreciated that we hadn’t broached this subject, particularly as a result of it’s usually the very first thing folks need to find out about one other individual in L.A. I used to be forming my very own theories — a author, in fact, or maybe a musician.
He gave the impression to be a font of musical data and he was hitting these pretend piano notes with a rhythm I didn’t have! Or maybe he was an artist of many trades, like me, who items collectively completely different passions to make a residing.
Because the place was closing, the bartender stated, “You know we just hung your picture up on the wall!”
I used to be shocked to see him gesture to a framed photograph of Vincent and one other man beaming on the digital camera, arms flung over one another’s shoulders in a brotherly method. It was in the midst of a gallery wall full of old-timey signed pictures of celebrities together with Sly Stallone and Lindsay Wagner, Johnny Depp and even Charles Bukowski. Now my wheels had been actually turning.
We stepped onto Hollywood Boulevard and strolled as much as the Pantages Theatre, arm-in-arm, beneath the marquee. “So what do you do?” I lastly requested, and our very stimulating dialog went like this:
Him: “I’m a DJ.”
Me: “Do you love it?”
Him: “I do!”
Me: “That’s … great!
Him: “Yup. Do you want to come back to my place?”
Me: “Yup!”
In order that was that. Thriller not fairly solved. The escapades that adopted are a narrative for one more day, however let’s simply say the atmosphere was high notch. Suppose musky candles, dim lighting, lo-fi jazz and clean whiskey with a giant dice. Let’s additionally say he was seemingly extra excited about my pleasure than his personal achieve, and that was refreshing.
I wakened the subsequent morning with a pounding headache, a gathering to hurry to in Santa Monica, and a giddiness I hadn’t felt since properly earlier than the brand new yr. After all, the query remained of who he was precisely, however as I drove on the 101 Freeway, with the solar beating down, the smoke clearing actually and figuratively and the sky a shade of good blue, I spotted how little it mattered.
Now, in fact, I’d be mendacity if I stated I didn’t do every thing in my energy to Google him after I bought house (although not realizing his final identify was an actual barrier). I’m a little bit of a sleuth, and at last discovered his Instagram by way of the Lily’s Bar web page. I can affirm he’s, in reality, a world-touring DJ, although I had by no means heard his music. So a well-known DJ — or higher but, an enigmatic, dynamic individual named Vincent — made me really feel hopeful once more and reclaim a bit of little bit of the love I had misplaced each with my associate and the sensation of enchantment in L.A. Life had been powerful, however there was nonetheless love to seek out. When will you understand, Vienna waits for you?
