* * * * * * *
The area around Los Angeles Union Station may be one of the best in the world to grab lunch between connecting trains. Within walking distance of the station are a variety of Mexican restaurants for whatever budget along Olvera Street, the famous French Dip sandwiches of Philippe's on Aladema, and of course, a plethora of restaurants in Chinatown. It's hard to choose, and hard to go wrong.
* * * * * * *
Philippe's as it appeared on 25-October-2008
For lunch, I decided on Philippe's, which celebrated its 100th anniversary on Alameda
Street some months ago with $0.10 sandwiches. They were back to their present $5.85 price today, a bargain especially considering that a side of macaroni or potato salad was barely over a dollar and lemonade costs just $0.70. Philippe's has French Dip without au jus--the sandwiches are pre-dipped, and ever so good. It seems like they have plenty of seats, but they were full every time I walked by today--it's not hard to figure out why. Just as icing on the cake for railfans, model trains are on display in several of the dining rooms.
* * * * * * *
Yes, that's a Chihuahua on Los Angeles' Olvera Street on 25-October-2008
For dinner, I met with the friend that had originally introduced me to La Golondrina and Olvera Street in general. While awaiting his arrival, a stereotypical scene unfolded, as mariachis sang "La Bamba" and a young boy walked a Chihuahua past the shops. One wonders what I would have seen had I been here a week later, on El Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead.
* * * * * * *
I did not realize until reading the historical markers now posted throughout the neighborhood that the original Chinatown had been destroyed to build Union Station in the 1920's. The current Chinatown was "New Chinatown" during the Depression--its very construction made difficult by laws preventing the "temporary" Chinese immigrants from owning property. How much has changed in 80 years in that regard should give some hope for further progress in the United States.
* * * * * * *
As I watched an elderly man feeding pigeons in the Central Plaza of Los Angeles' Chinatown today, I was reminded of the fact that pigeons had once been held in high esteem by city dwellers, being more closely associated with carrier pigeons that had helped the war effort in World War I than their current image of flying rats. Could it be that this man was actually old enough to remember that earlier era?
* * * * * * *
California is far from a battleground state in the presidential race, but there is a much tighter race going on. Proposition 8 would ban gay marriage, taking away a right that currently exists in the California constitution. Currently, most polls show it likely to pass, and indeed I saw more campaign signs (without exception in front of churches) supporting the proposition than I did Obama signs. (Notably, I haven't seen a McCain sign in this state yet.) Do I need to remind Californians what happens when the majority gets to decide on the rights of minorities?
* * * * * * *
One of the most absurd moments in the campaign this week came when Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin said, "This is not the time to experiment with socialism." Apparently someone forgot to the tell the Bush administration, in the process of effectively nationalizing (if temporarily and partially) major banking and other financial institutions.
No comments:
Post a Comment