Urban Homestead: Pictures of Stiletto City

Last weekend, The Great Plotnik took this photo out the window of the Flyaway Bus on its way from LAX to Union Station. This Urban Homesteader is about to enter his urban homestead, which he has set up on the sidewalk above the Downtown Clover Leaf Interchange.



In this photo, taken ten seconds later, he's inside his house. The bump is him. Shortly afterwards, as the bus sat waiting for a light, Plot saw the tip of an umbrella pop through the blue plastic, as Homie was trying to use the umbrella as a tent pole. Then, the bus roared away, coating the homestead with diesel glurrpp.



When people think about Stiletto City, they see Hollywood and Beverly Hills and Malibu Beach. If they drive on the freeway they see endless tract houses, mini malls, auto repair shops and burger joints. Few know about the neighborhood where PD, 5H and B-I live, studded with glorious Crafstman homes and even some beautifully restored Victorians.



Sooner or later, anyone who comes to the old hood ends up at Cafe Tropical. Baby I has been there many times, and she's only four months old.



After a fantastic cup of cafe con leche, one or two empanadas de queso and maybe a slice of guayaba pie, it's time to think about dinner. You really can't go wrong with El Caserio -- an Italian/Ecuadorian family restaurant where the Italian food might be good, but nobody knows because we always order from the Ecuadorian side of the menu, like this Churrasco.



And don't forget the flowers blooming at Mummy Plotnik's in March: golden kalanchoe, purple and white azaleas and red and orange clivia.