This story begins at MiniBar, as so a lot of my Hollywood tales do. Nicely, technically it’s referred to as Lily’s Bar now, however to me it’s going to all the time be MiniBar — the inconspicuous hole-in-the-wall bar discovered contained in the Finest Western — no wait, the Adler a Hollywood Hills Resort on Franklin Avenue.
It’s the form of place the place you’ll be able to speak to everybody or nobody, and that’s why I adore it.
Now it goes with out saying that it’s been a tough begin to the brand new yr for us Angelenos. As if the fixed risk to democracy and local weather change-induced fires weren’t sufficient, I additionally discovered myself deep within the loneliness and existential hopelessness that comes with a breakup, one which was initiated by me however nonetheless stung. My ex is an egomaniacal actor who as soon as mentioned, “I think I’d like you more if you were repped by a reputable agency like CAA.”
So that you’ll perceive my option to drown my sorrows in a unclean martini and Eve Babitz’s “Sex and Rage.”
Regardless of my “talk to no one” intention on this idle Wednesday, I discovered myself distracted by a person sitting on the fringe of the bar throughout from me, writing feverishly on a serviette. I acknowledge that circulate of inspiration, the necessity to get each thought onto any floor potential earlier than it slips away. This fashion drew me in additional than his sharp jaw and glossy hair (he will need to have an oiling routine), although in hindsight his options have been magnetic, nearly of a distinct period. A Marlon Brando-esque gaze which holds a world of ideas.
I sensed us one another at completely different instances, he once I was (pretending to be) deeply engrossed in a chapter, and I when he was scribbling down a thought. I needed so badly to ask him what he was writing however would have needed to yell throughout the bar or plop down subsequent to him. Neither choice appeared warranted.
After an hour and a second soiled martini, I made a decision it was time to go away and let this man stay a thriller. Simply as I requested for my examine, he received as much as go to the toilet, and a stroke of inspiration hit me: Why not go away my quantity on a serviette? On the very least he’d respect the vessel by way of which I selected to put in writing it. In order that’s precisely what I did.
I set it subsequent to his drink, and the bartender gave me a wink, which felt like omen. I left with a stroke of vitality. I ought to go away my quantity extra typically, I assumed as I walked throughout the car parking zone to my automotive.
Then I heard somebody say, “Kelly!” My identify minimize by way of the spirited air, and I circled to search out him standing there. He shrugged his shoulders and requested, “Do you want to go to the Frolic Room?”
He might have mentioned Mars, and I’d have mentioned sure. All of a sudden, what lay earlier than me was an evening stuffed with countless prospects. I hadn’t felt the electrical energy of spontaneity for a very long time.
It seems the Frolic Room was a fast stroll right down to Hollywood Boulevard, in all probability one of many solely instances I’ve walked from one bar to a different in L.A. He mentioned he favored the boldness of leaving my quantity and had needed to do the identical. He advised me his first identify: Vincent. There was numerous silence, but it surely was comfy. And we walked quick.
There have been solely a handful of individuals inside, though the place couldn’t match way more than that anyway, and Vincent guided me straight to the jukebox, hand-in-hand. “Pick a song,” he mentioned.
I don’t know why, however Billy Joel’s “Vienna” got here to thoughts, maybe as a result of it’s all the time embodied a want to search out journey on this metropolis and soak the marrow out of life. That prompted Vincent to decide on “Piano Man,” and earlier than I knew it we have been doing pictures of whiskey and pretending the bar was a piano itself, miming the notes with our arms. Everybody joined in.
The entire time I used to be considering, Who is that this man? Though I used to be interested in what he did for work, I additionally appreciated that we hadn’t broached this subject, particularly as a result of it’s typically the very first thing folks need to find out about one other individual in L.A. I used to be forming my very own theories — a author, in fact, or maybe a musician.
He appeared to be a font of musical data and he was hitting these faux piano notes with a rhythm I didn’t have! Or maybe he was an artist of many trades, like me, who items collectively completely different passions to make a dwelling.
Because the place was closing, the bartender mentioned, “You know we just hung your picture up on the wall!”
I used to be shocked to see him gesture to a framed photograph of Vincent and one other man beaming on the digicam, arms flung over one another’s shoulders in a brotherly method. It was in the course of a gallery wall stuffed with old-timey signed pictures of celebrities together with Sly Stallone and Lindsay Wagner, Johnny Depp and even Charles Bukowski. Now my wheels have been actually turning.
We stepped onto Hollywood Boulevard and strolled as much as the Pantages Theatre, arm-in-arm, below the marquee. “So what do you do?” I lastly requested, and our very stimulating dialog went like this:
Him: “I’m a DJ.”
Me: “Do you love it?”
Him: “I do!”
Me: “That’s … great!
Him: “Yup. Do you want to come back to my place?”
Me: “Yup!”
In order that was that. Thriller not fairly solved. The escapades that adopted are a narrative for an additional day, however let’s simply say the atmosphere was prime notch. Assume musky candles, dim lighting, lo-fi jazz and easy whiskey with an enormous dice. Let’s additionally say he was seemingly extra excited about my pleasure than his personal achieve, and that was refreshing.
I awoke the following morning with a pounding headache, a gathering to hurry to in Santa Monica, and a giddiness I hadn’t felt since effectively earlier than the brand new yr. In fact, the query remained of who he was precisely, however as I drove on the 101 Freeway, with the solar beating down, the smoke clearing actually and figuratively and the sky a shade of sensible blue, I spotted how little it mattered.
Now, in fact, I’d be mendacity if I mentioned I didn’t do every part in my energy to Google him once I received residence (although not understanding his final identify was an actual barrier). I’m a little bit of a sleuth, and at last discovered his Instagram by way of the Lily’s Bar web page. I can affirm he’s in truth a world-touring DJ, although I had by no means heard his music. So a well-known DJ — or higher but, an enigmatic, dynamic individual named Vincent — made me really feel hopeful once more and reclaim slightly little bit of the love I had misplaced each with my companion and the sensation of enchantment in L.A. Life had been robust, however there was nonetheless love to search out. When will you understand, Vienna waits for you?
