Hello, When my wife and I were first starting to stay together in college, finals were coming up and we still wanted to be together all of the time. So, being conscientious guy, to extend our togetherness, I suggested to go study and do our research for our final projects at the college library. Well, that was all good and the intentions were honorable. It just extended the time we could be together. The problem was, our own college library during the final months of the semester was only open until 10 p.m. So, we found a smaller local college library that stayed open until 11:30 p.m. that was a little better. But, at this stage of getting something done and we were 20 somethings, we looked for more time doing our thing for our final projects and studying. Up in Los Angeles, we found out that the UCLA library in Westwood stayed open until 2:30 a.m. Now, we were talking business. I was familiar with that area since early 1958 through 65. Our favorite wheel and tire alignment place was just down the street from the Westwood Campus. It was a drive to get to our wheel alignment place, but our cars always handled better after a visit to the place. It was the person doing the work that made the place so popular and the results were always excellent. (later on, the guy moved to the Big OC and became our guy when we got the El Camino tires and 327 sedan delivery project expertise help… ) Jnaki Just to show anyone how committed we were, the UCLA campus was all powerful and very popular as their basketball team was undefeated and current NCAA champions. A young kid named Lew Alcindor was the star center. But, the library seclusion and extra time allowed for us to be together, was one of the main reasons to go there. The library was near the student center and even late at night, the activity was still continuing. The rest, well it was just news… As the library was silent and a great place for research, I did remember several places in the South Bay area on the way home to stop for a snack. The cool, funky, Parasol Restaurant in Torrance on PCH. The Parasol was open 24 hours a day, and its menu ranged from standard breakfast fare to burgers, sandwiches and steaks, as well as lobster for dinner. Our favorite was an early steak and eggs meal until we could arrive back in Belmont Shore with a drive down the coastal route. Parasol There was also a corner Norm’s Restaurant in Long Beach at the corner of PCH and Long Beach Blvd. it was a very popular and the food hit the spot plenty of times at the early hours or late nights, whatever was the case. similar Norm's Note: As big as our own college campus was in Long Beach, the UCLA campus was many times the size and it was easy to get lost. But for us, it was studying, food/drinks and a quiet place to get some final work done so we could graduate on time. Later on in the late 68-70 era, the Westwood City area drew a lot of young 20 somethings as it became a hang out of sorts. Great restaurants, first run movie theaters, and it was freeway close to the ocean a few miles away in Santa Monica. YRMV
Yeaaaaah, anyone looking for advice or hero’s probably shouldn’t turn to Jerry Lee Lewis….unless they’re looking to shred a piano or piss everyone off!
The Jalopy Journal
