downtown days

urban playdate. dylan contemplates the original french dip at phillipes (we didn't order any violet-tinted pickled eggs, but we will one of these days) yet prefers his thomas the tank engine train.
dylan takes a first bite of lamb french dip at phillipes the original. mais oui!

we've been indulging our love of all things downtown these days--once a week or even twice or every other week--whenever we can--you will always find us museum-cafe-park and playground-hoppin' around downtown. whether we're strolling the beautiful rose garden at the natural history museum, roaming the halls of the california science center, dining at the street-chic bottega louie, climbing the jungle gym at griffith, or checkin out the animals at the l.a. zoo, we've made going into the city a priority for kid-friendly adventures. dylan is one happenin' tot and he's sure getting around.

today, after a halloween playdate at zowen's in los feliz, we met up with daddy john at phillipes french dip for a quick supper. it is a place, that i like to call, one of the great equalizers in los angeles---people from all walks of life congregate here, like a big bus terminal and it is as film noir as an old fashioned sandwich counter can get.* you will see big latino families with babies in strollers, truckers sitting on stools watching the game, old timers who look like they've walked out of raymond chandler or bukowski novels, chinese mothers and their teenage sons, black church groups on an evening out, alterna dudes who could double for the band weezer, and then there's us--with dylan in tow. 'hi,' the everfriendly dylan announces--to everyone. 'HI!' and 'hello,' everyone responds, with smiles and chuckles.

for as long as i can remember, phillipes was my first great introduction to downtown l.a. i first came here with my friend lia when i was 14 (thanks lia!)---that was about five years ago, i tell john (ha ha!). and now it is on dylan's list of unique and great and awesome places to go and see with mom and dad.

and like phillipes, our toddler is a great equalizer. he connects with everyone and anyone and is happy to offer a wave and greeting to everyone he meets: pretty ladies, old folks, waiters, the homeless, babies, kids, the handicapped, the chipper and the not-so-happy folk. all are fair game to dylan, everyone is welcome, everyone is kind. he is more social than most people i know, and really knows how to work a room. and that is why we ended up at phillipes french dip, it is as great as l.a. can aspire to be, and as scruffy, well worn and authentic as the chipped cafeteria trays on those long communal tables, as rough as the sawdust on the floor, as ever present as the bottles of nose-searing horseradish sauce, for all to share. here's to more downtown days with dylan!

*you'll be happy to know that a cup of coffee still costs 10 cents. with phillipes, who needs starbucks?