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Crossing Laurel Canyon

Picture Day in Laurel Canyon is a real event. David, the owner of Laurel Canyon Country Store welcomes you. You'll love the 'regulars' too.

"You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave!" Thanks to the Eagles (Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Don Felder and Joe Walsh) for their sentiment expressed in their hit Hotel California. This might be the anthem for Laurel Canyon.

The place conjures up images of glamour, mystery, the occult, sex, drugs, rock and roll. Who can deny the lure associated with living the counter-culture existence in the center—the very heart—the anvil of Hollywood?

I'm not talking about the genteel Valley stretch of the canyon road of Sears, Kinney Shoes and the ice-skating rink that becomes a proverbial dust bowl in Sunland. I mean the rugged, winding, verdant, dangerous road that can cause cars to hydroplane down the swiftwater causing them to careen and plummet down the flooded roadside as if cursed by the God Olympus from above.

Why did the Army Air Corps establish a giant movie studio on top of Lookout Mountain? Were the denizens of the canyon being watched? Was someone spying on the notorious Wonderland Gang (the biggest cocaine ring operating west of the Mississippi)? Laurel Canyon, more than any other place has always attracted talent, creativity, secrets, magic, mystery, energy and music, music, music...

I can't count the number of times I've driven over the hill to Sunset or Melrose and zoomed by the Laurel Canyon Country Store, always meaning to stop and see what it's all about. Today I did it. I stopped and parked and went inside.

I ask the man at the cash register, "Who is the owner?" The man smiles and sticks out his hand, "I'm David and this is my store." I ask David about the legend that the inhabitants of Laurel Canyon have a "picture day"—is it possible? 

David points to the upper walls of his store—there are at least a dozen huge photos showing hundreds of people. He explains that indeed it's true. Picture day is very festive. It happens one day at the end of November. The latest edition is proudly hung over the entrance.

I ask David what a typical day is like? He says that Steven Tyler usually stops in for his morning bagel followed by other regulars, mostly musicians and actors. People like Esther Galil, Jeffrey O'Connell, Katharine Bosch, Judith Dryland, Spike Steward, Shawn Juliet. I meet Esther and some of the others. I ask what's so special about this place? She immediately says, "I love the hugs. We're musicians and we need to be hugged and loved."

After perusing the deli case, I order a chicken salad sandwich and proceed to sit outdoors on the great patio. I enjoy the warm ambience despite the sound of zooming cars whizzing by on their way down the canyon. David stops by to show me Jim Morrison's house behind the store on Rothdell Trail—sweet little abode with a bell near the top. 

He reminds me that the restaurant adjoining his store is a marvelous Italian called Pace (PAH CHAY). It opens at 5:30 p.m. for dinner. I promise to return soon. I ask David, "Do you live around here?" He shakes his head, "No, I live in Beverly Hills." I reply, "David, good for you!"  He looks skyward and says, "God bless America! In my 25 years of owning this store I've never had one day of trouble. It's a blessing."

On my travels through Laurel Canyon, I've also come across some disturbing stories, which I'll elaborate on in another post. This encounter was joyous and I'm happy to be able to spread the good news. Thank you David and all the other regulars who welcomed me so warmly. I love the laid-back, bohemian, easy-spirited atmosphere and, most especially, the warmth.

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Miki Henderson April 27, 2013 at 02:27 pm
Is there a video of this minecraft from mr donovan
Rich Addams March 30, 2013 at 02:49 pm
Luv the bunnyleggos
Cheyenne Chasen March 25, 2013 at 01:00 pm
Love seeing the new entries each and every week! Keep it up!
Mike Szymanski (Editor) May 17, 2013 at 09:34 am
It's better if you put this in the START A BLOG area and add photos...it stays there longer!
Irene DeBlasio May 17, 2013 at 04:09 pm
@MikeSzymanski I must admit that I haven't been able to detect a new format. Where is the format?Read More Who designed this? All I can tell is that there is a beautiful shot of trees -- perfect! Under that banner all hell breaks lose and you can't tell what you're looking it. There might be a huge blowup of Mr. Walker or a too big notice of something official-looking -- possibly an agenda. I have not been able to navigate through all the stuff. Lots of white space on either side which gives me impression that we're tailoring a community paper more toward an iphone or smart phone (or a tablet). Maybe I need a GPS to find a good list of contents here. In the meantime, it's not very attractive (exception for the banner trees photo) nor entertaining and not very informative. Scotty Reston, where are you now that we need you?
A. May 16, 2013 at 10:19 pm
the picture selected is nice and it well suits the page. it would be nice to see the full pic. tooRead More bad so much of it is blocked from the top portion of the content....any chance of seeing the full picture and starting the content beneath it?
A. May 16, 2013 at 09:45 pm
hmmm. not yet familiar with navigating the new version....i need to give it more of a chance.
Barbara Krause May 17, 2013 at 08:00 am
I find this very disconcerting. Mel Randall who is on the Land Use Committee was asked to submit hisRead More name. We assumed qualifications would be checked and then those best suited would be chosen. Two entries of the same name is in itself so bad makes me feel that all of this should be redone.
Hugh May 16, 2013 at 07:50 am
I was at the meeting last night and saw all I need to see on how our neighborhood council work. TheyRead More had a drawing for the grievance panel. WHAT A SHAM!! They drew 1 guys name twice and rather than stop the proceedings and make sure that the names in the hat were legitimate and no other duplicates exist and redo the drawing, they just drew another name. Now it probably was just a fluke but the appearance of a rigged drawing is there and it taints the whole council and it proceedings. It is very apparent why we need a grievance panel in the first place. When the appearance of corruption exists at the lowest levels of our democratic process it is no wonder that the whole system is collapsing before our eyes. Our neighborhood council should hang their heads in shame!
Mike Szymanski (Editor) May 16, 2013 at 01:46 pm
Down on the bottom LEFT of the front page, StudioCity.Patch.com is the place to write comments aboutRead More WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NEW PATCH? If you put in your email you will get a response!
Mike Szymanski (Editor) May 16, 2013 at 01:39 pm
Yikes! The feedback box is gone! Send questions to help@patch.com they'll get back to you!
Sheri Haas May 16, 2013 at 01:25 pm
Don't see any box. The ads are the only items large and bright enough to read and they cover mostRead More everything.
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