Jake

Los Angeles, California
Saturday,
July 22, 2006

Only one thing could drag us away from beautiful Newport Beach...and that would be the one and only Jake, Tom's nephew. Jake was part of a fabulous teen cross country summer tour (Rein Teen Tours). We knew that we were all going to be in LA at the same time and we had permission to steal him away for the day. We set our alarm and drove the hour and half to the UCLA dorms where his tour was staying. Our day started at Pink's, Hollywood's famous hot dog stand. Tom has been talking about Pink's since we left DC, and even though it was only 10:30 a.m., we were all looking forward to hot dogs for breakfast.

Paul Pink started with a large-wheeled pushcart vending his hot dogs at the corner of La Brea and Melrose in 1939. The depression was on and money was scarce. Pink's chili dogs, complete with a large warm bun, oversized hot dog, mustard, onions and thick chili sold for 10 cents each. His hot dog wagon was located in "the country", rolling hills of weeds and open spaces. That was sixty-five years ago!

Times have changed, but not Pink's. Oh, in 1946 Paul Pink did trade his hot dog wagon in for a small building (constructed on the very same spot where the wagon stood). But the stand hasn't changed since those days. Today, Pink's chili dogs sell for $2.50 each (with inflation and the shrinking dollar, they are a better bargain now than in 1939!). Pink's still gives that very same quality now as then...mouth-watering chili, generously topping an all-beef hot dog with mustard and onions. Quality and service (an average Pink's chili dog can be ordered, prepared and delivered to the customer in less than 30 seconds!) have been the two reasons Pink's has not only survived, but become famous. And free parking really makes it the best deal in town.



After we filled up on dogs, we took Jake for a tour through the mansions in Bel Air, the Pier in Santa Monica and the frightfully dirty Venice Beach. It was Thea's first time there and all the idyllic visions she had of Venice Beach were immediately dispelled when she saw the indigents and grime...Tom and Jake thought it was way cool!

PS If you can find Tom in one of the photos in this posting, you could win two weeks free housesitting (offer only valid if you live within one block of a beach or resort area).