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News & ArtsSunday, August 9, 2009
At Large Meanwhile in Beverly Hills
Posted by Dan Savage on Sun, Aug 9, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Seattle isn't the only place where people will stand in ridiculously long lines for a little sugar. Earlier this afternoon the line stretched down the block outside Sprinkles, the alleged "progenitor of the haute cupcake craze," according to their website. It's was 85 degrees outside when I took this picture. I love cupcakes. But who wants a cupcake when it's freakin' 85 degrees outside?
I rode all over LA today—biked from West Hollywood down to Venice Beach and then over to the Santa Monica Pier and then up Santa Monica Boulevard all the way back to West Hollywood—and I have to say that biking In LA is a lot more pleasant than I thought it would be. Best of all, there are bike paths everywhere here, running along both sides of every street, which makes it easy to get around. They call them "sidewalks" and I pretty much had them all to myself all day long.
1
Dan dear, do be careful - at our age, too much physical activity can lead to broken hips and/or heart attacks.
I trust you are back in some lovely, air-conditioned hotel bar. They're really the only places in LA that are even remotely civilized. I recommend the downtown Standard, the Biltmore, or the revolving bar on top of the Bonaventure.
I trust you are back in some lovely, air-conditioned hotel bar. They're really the only places in LA that are even remotely civilized. I recommend the downtown Standard, the Biltmore, or the revolving bar on top of the Bonaventure.
2
So, is the Tango Grill still there? I remember that lovely men could be seen there, but it has been awhile.
3
Originators of the haute cupcake experience?
Oh poor LA, pretending NYC doesn't exist. It's almost as cute as Pusan v. Seoul.
Oh poor LA, pretending NYC doesn't exist. It's almost as cute as Pusan v. Seoul.
4
Sprinkles is the most overrated, ridiculous place to go for cupcakes. I live in BH, and I really like to get breakfast at The Nosh on Rexford and Santa Monica, and then walk to Beverly Dr. to stick my head in Crate & Barrel or get some iced tea. It's just a nice walk. However, I always have to walk past these people taking up most of the sidewalk. I can't figure out why these people like it so much. I tried it one day with my friends, when there wasn't a line, and it was probably the worst cupcake I've ever had. Bland as hell.
I guess it's the same people who wait in line for Pinkberry --which I also can't figure out. It's a bizarre phenomenon. What's really bizarre, is that the thousands of other frozen yogurt places, and the handful of other cupcake places, don't have lines like this.
I keep hoping food fads like this will blow over.
The latest fad is vendor trucks. Yep. Food out of a truck is the latest craze. Here's the Kogi BBQ Truck in Beverly Hills: http://kogibbq.com/
Sometimes I hate living in BH because I have to share it with these morons.
I guess it's the same people who wait in line for Pinkberry --which I also can't figure out. It's a bizarre phenomenon. What's really bizarre, is that the thousands of other frozen yogurt places, and the handful of other cupcake places, don't have lines like this.
I keep hoping food fads like this will blow over.
The latest fad is vendor trucks. Yep. Food out of a truck is the latest craze. Here's the Kogi BBQ Truck in Beverly Hills: http://kogibbq.com/
Sometimes I hate living in BH because I have to share it with these morons.
5
Yeah, call me leotarded, but I prefer a Betty Crocker-style boxed cupcake to Sprinkles. Highly overrated.
6
Wow, Dan. That's a pretty impressive haul - WeHo to Venice to Santa Monica back to WeHo. Takes about an hour and a half by car. I'm guessing it took you 4 to 5 hours on a bike. Most impressive.
What are you doing in LA? Vacationing? I know it's been recently very hot up here in the Pacific Northwest - and was cooler in southern California during that time, but a vacation in SoCal this time of year can be tricky. The LA basin is certainly cooler than the valleys, but still, it can be an oven there in July, August, and September especially for people not used to it.
What are you doing in LA? Vacationing? I know it's been recently very hot up here in the Pacific Northwest - and was cooler in southern California during that time, but a vacation in SoCal this time of year can be tricky. The LA basin is certainly cooler than the valleys, but still, it can be an oven there in July, August, and September especially for people not used to it.
7
Yeh. I live there, too. Sprinkles is not so good and WAY too sweet; I say this as a person who loves sweets. As for 85 degrees? Keep in mind, that's a nice, mild day, here. Sort of like 62 and drizzling in Seattle, which is, granted, vastly preferable to 85 and brownsmudgy, but conditioning is all.
11
But cycling on sidewalks would work in L.A. only because there are no pedestrians there. Cycling on sidewalks is illegal in California -- a bicycle is considered a wheeled vehicle and by law has to be ridden in the street, not on the sidewalk. Watch out for the police, DS, I'd hate for you to get a ticket as a welcome wagon gift from the good people of Southern California.
12
I believe riding a bike on the sidewalks is illegal in Los Angeles.
As it should be, especially in Santa Monica, where I am one of many pedestrian residents, but who has nearly been knocked down twice by inconsiderate assholes riding their bikes on the sidewalk.
Stay off the fucking sidewalks in Santa Monica, at least -- it's a walk city and I'd rather not have a hip broken by some asshole bicyclist when I'm uninsured.
As it should be, especially in Santa Monica, where I am one of many pedestrian residents, but who has nearly been knocked down twice by inconsiderate assholes riding their bikes on the sidewalk.
Stay off the fucking sidewalks in Santa Monica, at least -- it's a walk city and I'd rather not have a hip broken by some asshole bicyclist when I'm uninsured.
14
That cupcake shop is two blocks from my office, and the line is typically that absurd. I don't get the cupcake trend. But I do get Kogi, which is remarkable.
I had a nice ride today, too. Santa Monica up to Will Rogers State Beach, down to Venice and through the canals, and back home. No cupcakes.
I had a nice ride today, too. Santa Monica up to Will Rogers State Beach, down to Venice and through the canals, and back home. No cupcakes.
15
If you want to vacation in SoCal you should come down to San Diego. It's not as hot and there's less smog. And, as far as I know, we don't have any ridiculous cupcake shops.
16
Dan, regardless of the law of the state or the presence of pedestrians, cycling on sidwalks is NOT SAFE. you may want to check out this website. http://www.bicyclesafe.com/
17
What's the difference between a "cupcake" and a "muffin" (other than the decoration, I'm not really sure)? Best wishes.
18
ASSHOLE ON #1. WORRY ABOUT CUPCAKES. MY JOBZ IZ TO WORRY ABOUT SLOGGY HEALTH. WATCHIN SLOGGIES IZ LIKE WATCHIN' PUPPIES. ST00PID ANIMALES ALL. THEY'LL POOP THAT SHIT. I'M LEAVING ON A JET PLANE 2DAY SO I GOTTA SSAVE SUM QUIPS N WIT UP 4 A WHOOOOOLE WEEK WURTH OF LINDY, KARLES MUDDY, DAN THE AVERAGE FRED SAVAGE, AND MISSING ERICA C BAAANET AND HURR UNLAWFUL TERMINATION. SWEAR 2 JAH, SHIT IZ LIKE OJ TWICE OVER. INNOCENT BOTH TIMES!!!!
NEWAY. MISS U ALRDY, DON'T WORRY, I'LL BE BACKSIES AND BACK ON MY GRIZZY LIKE WHEN TONY NO ROMO DROPPED JESSICA XBEST PINK JERSEY.
DON'T FUCK AROUND, THE CAT IZ GONNA WATCH U FRUM AFAR. I GET THIS SHIT ON THE 'BERRY, AND U AIN'T SAFE NOWHEREZ.
MUFFINZ ARE WHAT SPILL OUT OF LOW RISE SHIT, HAVE BRAN/HEAVIEAH GRAIN, AND DON'T USUALLY INVOLVE SUCH A HIGH CONFECTIONER'S SUGAH TO ASSHOLERY RATIO. WAIT. THOSE ARE RELATED NUT PROPORTIONAL.
SEATTLE IZ GON B SUCH A SHITHOLE WHILE I DON'T MISS IT.
I'LL HOLLAH AT THE PACIFISTS FOR Y'ALL.
NEWAY. MISS U ALRDY, DON'T WORRY, I'LL BE BACKSIES AND BACK ON MY GRIZZY LIKE WHEN TONY NO ROMO DROPPED JESSICA XBEST PINK JERSEY.
DON'T FUCK AROUND, THE CAT IZ GONNA WATCH U FRUM AFAR. I GET THIS SHIT ON THE 'BERRY, AND U AIN'T SAFE NOWHEREZ.
MUFFINZ ARE WHAT SPILL OUT OF LOW RISE SHIT, HAVE BRAN/HEAVIEAH GRAIN, AND DON'T USUALLY INVOLVE SUCH A HIGH CONFECTIONER'S SUGAH TO ASSHOLERY RATIO. WAIT. THOSE ARE RELATED NUT PROPORTIONAL.
SEATTLE IZ GON B SUCH A SHITHOLE WHILE I DON'T MISS IT.
I'LL HOLLAH AT THE PACIFISTS FOR Y'ALL.
19
Cycling on sidewalks is what I have to do on my way home from work along Eastlake: it beats trying not to get killed by asshole drivers in Seattle.
20
Dan, did you wear a helmet? Unlike in Seattle, it doesn't seem that there's a helmet law there for people over the age of 18.
Also, the sidewalk law seems to state that unsafe sidewalk riding is banned, not all riding. Can someone clarify?
"Sidewalk Riding (LAMC 56.15) Prohibits the riding of bicycles (or other human power devices) on sidewalks (bikeways or boardwalks) with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Disallows the riding of bicycles on Ocean Front Walk in Venice."
Also, the sidewalk law seems to state that unsafe sidewalk riding is banned, not all riding. Can someone clarify?
"Sidewalk Riding (LAMC 56.15) Prohibits the riding of bicycles (or other human power devices) on sidewalks (bikeways or boardwalks) with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Disallows the riding of bicycles on Ocean Front Walk in Venice."
23
The helmet law is for UNDER 18yo.
See: California Bicycle Helmet Statute
http://asci.uvm.edu/equine/law/helmet/he…
See: California Bicycle Helmet Statute
http://asci.uvm.edu/equine/law/helmet/he…
24
@21: Well legal but there are rules:
"Section 11.44.120 RIDING ON A SIDEWALK OR PUBLIC PATH. Every person operating a bicycle upon any sidewalk or public path shall operate the same in a careful and prudent manner and a rate of speed no greater than is reasonable and proper under the conditions existing at the point of operation, taking into account the amount and character of pedestrian traffic, grade and width of sidewalk or public path, and condition of surface, and shall obey all traffic control devices. Every person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk or public path shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian thereon, and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian."
"Section 11.44.120 RIDING ON A SIDEWALK OR PUBLIC PATH. Every person operating a bicycle upon any sidewalk or public path shall operate the same in a careful and prudent manner and a rate of speed no greater than is reasonable and proper under the conditions existing at the point of operation, taking into account the amount and character of pedestrian traffic, grade and width of sidewalk or public path, and condition of surface, and shall obey all traffic control devices. Every person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk or public path shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian thereon, and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian."
25
@23: I know, that's why I said "Unlike in Seattle, it doesn't seem that there's a helmet law there for people over the age of 18."
26
i think the cupcake craze (and the whole dessert craze in general) is solely based on the fact that the average modern mom hasn't baked homemade/made from scratch desserts for the last 30 years due to the fact most of them work outside the home (or laziness). People under 40 are satisfied and delighted by very mundane/bland "treats" because they've only been exposed to Safeway bakery type shit.
27
Riding on sidewalks in LA works pretty well until you get into the really snooty neighborhoods. They don't even have sidewalks.
31
My current weho fixation is yogurt stop's cake batter flavor - do it yourself froyo - you put the flavor and toppings you want, and pay by the ounce- and seriously yummy!
today I biked from a great part of beverly hills to my sis' place near long beach, using the metro to get from hollywood to del amo-- perhaps LA doesn't always have to be so car-traffic centric if you get a little creative...
today I biked from a great part of beverly hills to my sis' place near long beach, using the metro to get from hollywood to del amo-- perhaps LA doesn't always have to be so car-traffic centric if you get a little creative...
32
@20 - That's the L. A. Municipal Code you're quoting. The law against riding bicycles on sidewalks is State vehicle law, not Municipal.
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