Coordinates: 108 W. 2nd St., 90012
Neighborhood: Down-town, circa 1909
Happiest Hours: Mon.-Fri., 5-7pm, with varied "specials" throughout the week
Those who know me know that I'm a nut for all things turn-of-the-century. Bicycles with big front wheels, gaslamps, labor disputes -- this is an era in which I wish I could have lived. So, from that particular point of view, now is a great time to be alive in Los Angeles.
You might say that we're going through a mini-revival in fin de siecle culture at the moment. From the renewed interest in downtown LA to the current "classic cocktail" motif that's all over town (see below), the early 20th Century is huge. Like John Fante huge. And there's no bigger (in size or reputation) player on that field than downtown LA's The Edison.
Now, my main man Cedd Moses may dispute this assertion. I'd be disappointed, in fact, if he didn't. After all, Moses holds the current crown for "Authenticity" among downtown tavern-and-saloon types. He owns places like the Golden Gopher (open since 1905), Cole's (1908) and The Varnish (2009, but acts like it's 1899), and he runs these places with an eye towards detail that is practically unmatched. I say "practically" because (and I'm not 100% sure about this) he doesn't appear to own a bar with turn-of-the-century electricity-generating equipment scattered about. Of course, I'm not very observant.
But while The Edison may have a lock on the most spectacular downtown venue -- and it is spectacular, as it looks like it's straight out of some steampunk enthusiast's wet dream -- it sort of drops the ball when it comes to the Happy Hour. Which, after all, is also a turn-of-the-century invention, given that working for 12 hours in a shirtwaist factory or coal mine generally only allowed an hour of happiness per day.
The Vitals: Like I said, The Edison is spectacular. It looks simply amazing, it's got all sorts of cool, old machinery all around, it's forty feet underground, and it's filled with all these hidden nooks and crannies in case you and your betrothed want to engage in a little premarital thigh-touching. The bartenders know their shit, are friendly, and make a fine 1902-themed libation. But the place is expensive, and their famous "theme nights" leave a little to be desired. After all, fine print is a little tough to read by flickering candlelight, or even by the first light bulb. The rules for "Soup Kitchen Friday" are laughably Byzantine -- you get one (1) $0.35 drink and an eighth of a grilled cheese, accompanied by a thimbleful of tomato soup. The rest of the drinks are a curious 40% off for the remainder of Happy Hour (5-7). I suppose I'm nitpicking here, since it's practically free, but these caveats would be nice to know before you gussy up (dress code, after all) and fight traffic to make it downtown for Happy Hour. After all, since it's 2009 as opposed to 1909, there are many more auto-carriages on the roads, and a lot fewer street-cars to get get us from the West-side to Bunker Hill, post-haste.
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