Montrose. It has mountains, it has roses. It also has bragging rights as the birthplace of Virginia "Ding Dong" Bell, noted 1950s stripper with noted 48-inch bust. Perhaps you saw her in the film Lullaby of Bareland? If not, you can stroll Honolulu Avenue, a small-town main drag of many amusements, pondering what you missed. Shop, eat, drink and huff the mountain air, just as Ding Dong once did.
Local Positioning: Montrose at Honolulu Ave.
A walking guide to Montrose
By Peter Gilstrap
Special to MetromixJune 18, 2008
Montrose Bowl
2334 Honolulu Ave., Montrose818-249-3895
It's arguably the best-preserved alley in SoCal; the balls began rolling in 1936 and haven't stopped yet. Though the place is used mainly for private parties, on off-days it's open to the public. As for those parties, until he maybe became a murderer, Phil Spector threw a yearly bash here, and folks like Van Halen and Stevie Nicks have played in the same gutter as regular humans. You may also recognize the lanes from Teen Wolf, among other films.
City Hall Coffee Shop
2327 Honolulu Ave. , Montrose818-248-4905
Other than a slight raise in prices, it's hard to tell how this consummate breakfast/sandwich shop has changed since the eggs started frying in 1961. The walls are covered with pennants and a signed photo of customer Tommy Lasorda. And if it's good enough for Tommy...
Avignone's
2321 Honolulu Ave., Montrose818-249-5471
If the phrase "dark neighborhood bar" stiffens your liquor muscle, slip into this old-school booze lounge and order up. Drinks are strong and reasonable, the juke is good, the deliciously nasty taint of stale cigarette smoke is ingrained in the place, and there are no windows. Next question?
Tom's Toys
2281 Honolulu Ave. , Montrose818-249-2178
If Tom's doesn't have it, you don't want to play with it: games, models, toys stuffed and otherwise. Wend your way through the aisles and pick from items like the Hydrogen Rocket (ages 10 through adult), ant farms, beetle farms, stalagmite growing kits, and, yes, Twister. Whether you're searching for a youngster or just very high and looking for amusements, Tom's is the place.
Three Drunken Goats
2256 Honolulu Ave., Montrose818-249-9950
Who cares where the rain in Spain falls when you have all the same wine and culinary wonders right herere? Tapas, paella, steaks and a nice cheese selection, as well as loads of dependable-to-amazing Spanish vino, all in a serene, tasteful setting. Really, it is about as far from a petting zoo as you can get.
Pattyes Closet
2249 Honolulu Ave. , Montrose818-957-5713
An astonishing collection of vintage items (mainly for the ladies) awaits you here, from costume jewelry to gowns, to boas to aprons, to go-go boots. There's furniture as well, plus random stuff like sewing patterns and binoculars. It's a closet bursting with wall-to-wall wintage wonders.
Add a comment