I've been married to Los Angeles for 28 years. My marriage got missionary on me. Same restaurants, same bars, work so hard, live alone, so tired all the time. I've always wanted to be a bit more of a player. Sleep with Paris, New York... Italy. But divorce is expensive and times are tough.I wanted to feel my heart beat again.I was in desperate need of a good, hard, strong, ONE-NIGHT STAND.

Determined to ignite the spark in my relationship, every week, I go on a first date with L.A. I go somewhere I've never been, sometimes never heard of. It may be a total walk of shame: I can't believe I went. It may be a one-night stand: a good experience for one night but no numbers exchanged. It may be a potential boyfriend: I want to go back and taste more. Or it may be marriage material: introduce to your friends, stay, laugh, enjoy and make it a home. Whatever it may be, L.A. is so much more complex and deep than I could have ever imagined. I'm falling in love, again and again and again....join me.

xo, Kit

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

4100 keep it simple


Wed. 9 pm. Girls night.

At the corner of Sunset and side street. No hassle parking and walk right in entrance. Simple.

So dark, I have to watch my footing. Damn the heels and those who rode in on them. They say bars keep the lights low so women feel sexier and men get the cojones to say hello. Don’t turn the lights up, all reality will break loose.

A jukebox screaming bloody murder. But, thankfully, one coin controls the vibe and I’m on my Holiday to Billie.

Everything dripping in dirty, dark red. Design infused with spiritual nuance. Indian Saris draped above my head.

Two years ago, I went to India. My friends and I stumbled upon an adobe house where 20 women dressed in Saris, preparing for a wedding, welcomed us in with open arms. So many lessons learned that day. Love, simply put, is complicated. But their connection to God isn’t. To them, the simplicity and goodness of God is found in life’s complications and chaos.

I’m reminded of this as I sit down at the bar. Behind me, a life size statue of a Hindu Goddess winks at me and tells me to leave my worries and love woes at the door. All is well at 4100.

My fate is now in the hands of the bartender who is the cutest straight/ gay/ straight? man I’ve ever laid eyes on. It’s still a toss up. Regardless, my friends think he’s hot.  He sure is sweet but I don’t care really. I’d almost prefer him to be gay.

I need a break from dating.

Men’s simplicity can get complicated. I’m exhausted from it.

I just want a night of estrogen brewed conversation served straight up in a rocks glass. No fancy martini glasses please.  They’re just too fussy and everything spills. Want to drink the drink; that’s why I ordered it.

To my left and right, Pabst Blue Ribbon is the main event with a shot of Tequila to dilute the taste. No frills, no fluff and definitely no fad Skinny cocktails. They like their drinks thick, low maintenance and down to earth here. 

Tattooed sleeves keep my mind’s eye occupied while my friends make friendly with the others.  I turn around and squint my eyes long enough to see the cave dwellers tucked away in the corners. First dates and long time mates all with a pint in hand. Every walk of life can enter these doors but only with a prerequisite of skinny jeans and a simple T.

As the crowd builds, the jukebox becomes a faint chant and the gay/straight/ gay? bartender pours my friend another round. He then asks for her number.

 Straight, definitely.

As I watch their exchange take place, my friend’s complicated love life is suddenly made so simple with a pen and paper napkin.  I mean, who knows? He could be the one. Anything is possible right? Straight can be gay and gay can be straight. But one thing is for sure. Love will always remain, simply complicated. 

Rating:




4100 Bar
1087 Manzanita Street 
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 666-4460

Posted by Kit Rich at 1:21 AM

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