The Crapi Apartments

12 Sunday Jan 2014

Like most people, when I first drove by the Crapi Apartment complex I assumed it said “Capri”; trying to make the renter feel as though they were living in a sunny villa along a picturesque Italian coast. After doing a triple take one day I realized that no, my eyes were not playing tricks on me, this apartment complex was indeed named the “Crapi” (crappy) Apartments. It was already a stretch to believe this complex would make anyone feel as though they were on a Mediterranean beach sipping sangria but this shattered the fantasy altogether. All of a sudden you knew exactly where you were; on a busy, loud, somewhat dirty section of Overland Avenue in Los Angeles, California.

What were the apartment owners thinking? They must be foreigners, I thought and didn’t have a handle on their English yet. But wouldn’t someone have told them? How did this get overlooked? And what about the people who live at Chez “Crapi” – do they realize it’s spelled wrong? Are the apartments actually crappy?

After a quick Google search I discovered that the apartment owners simply have a sense of humor. This of course makes the most sense but I’ll admit, I was disappointed that it wasn’t a long overlooked spelling error that I alone had discovered. I did however find out that the apartment owners also have a complex just around the corner called the “Chee Zee” Apartments. Okay… that’s pretty funny.

It’s nice to think that there are some apartment owners out there who might be really cool people to rent from.

My neighborhood is filled with amusing apartment names which I regularly admire and contemplate on my walks. Many of the complexes were built in the 1950s and 60s and I can’t help but wonder how and why they got their names. Take for example the “Leonara Jay” Apartments below. Who was Leonara Jay?

Months after taking this photo, I happened to be walking the other direction and noticed that the other side of the complex is named the “Leonard Jay.” Were they husband and wife? Were they brother and sister? I’m sure somebody out there knows. Either way, it makes me happy that someone took the time to name the complex. It feels like a great aunt or uncle with a few good stories to tell.

Recently, while walking down Motor Avenue, I happened upon the “Fantasie” Apartments. I have walked past this alleyway dozens of times and never noticed this sign. It seems unfortunate to me that such a beautiful sign would be stuffed between two buildings, certainly lessening the possibility of this being anyone’s “fantasie.” I would imagine though that there was a day when this complex stood proud and alluring, newly built on Motor Avenue, just a stone’s throw from the glitz of Sony studios.

I’m not sure why I like the apartment complex names so much. They invoke a sense of nostalgia I suppose, for a past Los Angeles I like to imagine experiencing. A mid-century Los Angeles full of atomic starburst designs and lava rock décor. I like that somebody tried at least to bring some imagination and intrigue to these simple, somewhat boring, rectangular buildings that countless people move in and out of year after year. Why not make it fun?

Palms

17 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by Lisa in In the Neighborhood, Places in the City

≈ 2 Comments

When I first moved to L.A. I did not want to live in Palms. Aside from its central location and proximity to the 10 and 405 freeways, it presents nothing extraordinary. It’s a small neighborhood East of Santa Monica and West of Beverly Hills. It sits on the outskirts of many desirable neighborhoods but fails to be one itself. Unless you live here, there really is no reason to come to Palms. When I moved to L.A. I wanted to live East. I wanted to live near the hipsters and the Bohemians and the artists. I wanted to live in an up-and-coming neighborhood where things were happening. That didn’t happen though. I ended up West and I ended up in Palms, a neighborhood that I deemed very un-romantic, and as far as I could tell was not up-and-coming.

I am not going to tell you how over the last three years I’ve discovered how romantic Palms is, or how it has surprisingly stolen my heart. Palms is still what it is, and that’s OK. I do enjoy many things about this neighborhood though and because of the time I’ve spent here it will go down as a very important place in my life. Like anything that you spend time with, and that is good to you, affection grows.

The first few weeks here in Palms I set out on my walks to explore the neighborhood. I took in the sights and sounds: Apartment buildings and more apartment buildings, trees, kids playing basketball in the park, people walking their dogs, restaurants, a laundry mat, shops and convenient stores. A very typical neighborhood. A few things though that are not so typical are the French high school across the street and the Muslim cultural center directly behind my apartment. I like to think these two things give my neighborhood an “international” feel. I know, it’s starting to sound romantic. I can’t help it – that’s what I do. To take it down a notch I will mention the huge storage facility across the street next to the school. This is actually very comforting to me. It’s nice knowing that if I have to store my belongings in an emergency it will be easy to get my stuff over there.

For me, one of the best things about Palms is the block of shops and restaurants near the intersection of National Blvd. and Motor Ave. I like to think of this as our village square. There is an Asian import market which doubles as a cafe where they’ve recently installed a big screen TV and free wireless. I spend many hot summer afternoons there, drinking mango smoothies to escape my stuffy apartment. There is also a delicious Indonesian restaurant that serves a dish called Nasi Bunkus that I am completely addicted to. When I think about moving my first thought is always, “oh no, what about Nasi Bunkus?” In this plaza there is also National Nails where I get my nails done, a dry cleaners where I get my cleaning done and a bar called Boardwalk 11 that is known for its karaoke night. Across from this plaza is a vegan restaurant, a Mexican restaurant and a great pizza place called Mamma’s. I would also regret not mentioning Palms Market down the street that serves perfect homemade guacamole, refried beans, and pico de gallo in their deli. Aside from the many food options there is also an antique store, a painting studio, a computer repair shop, a car repair/ body shop and a strange looking spa boasting something called the “Elizabeth Taylor Aquatic Center.” I am directly around the corner from all of this and as such the little square has become very dear to me. If for some reason the rest of L.A. disappeared or became unavailable, I would have everything I need right here.

Compared to other neighborhoods in L.A. Palms may be unexceptional but the longer I stay the more good continues to find it’s way here. We recently welcomed a gastro pub and a farmers market. I know, it sounds hip, but somehow it’s not and I actually kind of like that. The weekends are very quiet here as there are not a lot of reasons to come to Palms. I suppose if anything makes it extraordinary, it is this: it quietly remains itself amidst a city where so many people and places are trying to “be something.” It’s humble in its offerings and it seems comfortable with who it is. I’ve always dreamed of living in a small country village were life is quiet, convenient and charmingly simple. Strange that I would find myself in one of the only neighborhoods in L.A. that I can say that about. As much as I wanted to be in an area where things were supposedly “happening” I’m glad I ended up here. I know I said I wouldn’t get romantic but I guess I did. Palms, for everything that it is and everything that it isn’t, is home.