Writer known for in-depth features talks about curiosity and local news at LA Central Library event, columnist David Allen writes. Also: Cole’s French Dip gets another reprieve.
Susan Orlean talks about her relentless curiosity as a journalist and writer as Madeleine Brand listens at a Los Angeles Library Foundation event Oct. 28. , author of books on the trade in orchids , the first canine movie star and the nocturnal portion of the week’s sixth day .
Assigned to write about Macaulay Culkin as an example of a typical 10-year-old, Orlean talked her editor out of it and instead found a typical 10-year-old, whom she profiled in depth. “What do they think about? What do they talk about?” Orlean recalled wondering. “It was extraordinarily interesting to describe what a 10-year-old boy was like.” Her 1992 Esquire article was published under the title “The American Man at Age 10.” Its first line: “If Colin Duffy and I were to get married, we would have matching superhero notebooks.” I was in the audience for the free program in the library’s Mark Taper Forum, organized by the Library Foundation. Orlean was introduced as “the patron saint of the Los Angeles Public Library” to knowing laughter due to her 2018 bestseller, “The Library Book,” a history of the city’s library. That book was spawned by Orlean’s curiosity about how libraries function. She had taken a similar tact in a 1992 New Yorker story about a grocery store, telling us she had visited daily for four weeks to understand how each department worked and how the store fit into the neighborhood.“So, I think one could,” Orlean said, slightly deflecting. She added: “Don’t challenge me on it!” One of the questions from the audience asked her thoughts on the future of local news. Orlean, who lives in L.A., said she’s a daily newspaper reader . Most people, she said, get their headlines from Apple News or Google News feeds, not publications in their city or region. “We’ve lost a sense of wanting to know news in the communities we’re in,” Orlean said. “… We lose a whole lot.” She added: “For me, think of all the murder stories we wouldn’t get!”At lunch that day in Montclair, I was filling my fountain drink when a senior woman, holding an empty cup and looking befuddled, turned to me for assistance. Interrupting herself, she exclaimed: “Mr. Allen!” Nice to meet a subscriber, someone who still wants to know news from the community she’s in. Of more immediate and practical assistance, I explained the water dispenser function. Hours later, I was at the Central Library, a few miles from Dodger Stadium. Like I said, the program was free, unlike a World Series game. And given how the Dodgers fared that night — they lost 6-2 — those of us at the library may have had a more satisfying time of it.Cole’s P.E. Buffet, seen here Tuesday, has extended its planned closure again, this time until Dec. 31. It is the oldest restaurant in Los Angeles. Anticipating the library event, I took the 3:30 p.m. Metrolink train from Claremont rather than the 4:30 to allow for a relaxing dinner beforehand. That was at Cole’s French Dip, the 1908 tavern and restaurant You’ll recall that Cole’s, the oldest restaurant in L.A., had been set to close Aug. 3 due to slow business, news that prompted a mad rush of customers. That boom in turn led Cole’s to announce it would stay through Sept. 14. In that interim period, I’d gotten right in, at noon on a Sunday, to enjoy one last meal at an old favorite. Cole’s planned close was later extended to Nov. 1. There had been no update since. Perhaps this would be it. I didn’t necessarily need a second last meal there, but since I would be downtown anyway, four days before the alleged last day, why not?I got a half French dip, pork with Swiss, and cole slaw, plus an espresso martini. Did I want to keep the tab open? Yes, but not for drinking purposes. After my sandwich I went for the gusto with apple pie a la mode.As I settled up, a little after 6 p.m., I asked if Saturday would be truly the last day. The answer was no. “We’ll be open through the holidays,” a bartender said. “It’s being sold and we’re waiting for the sale to go through.”“You’ve got plenty of time. Come back as many times as you like,” the bartender said.that its last day would now be Dec. 31, “based on continued support from our guests and the community.”Another: “I’ve never been in a situationship with a restaurant before.” Cole’s replied with three crying-laughing emoji. Google’s overview of the term: “A situationship is a romantic or sexual relationship that lacks clear definition, commitment and a consistent future outlook.” Sounds about right. But the longer Cole’s can stick around, the better.What the heck, I clicked the link to test my knowledge of the Big Apple. Out of 25 multiple-choice questions, I got 16 correct. In school, a 65% score would net me a D. In this case, it was good enough to qualify me as a “New Yorker in Training.” “You’ve learned the basics,” the Gray Lady told me approvingly. This is based on a mere three visits to the city, occasional fiction and nonfiction reading and some lucky or educated guesswork. I don’t expect to ever live in NYC, but it’s nice to know I might be able to survive if necessary. I sent a screenshot of my score to my friend Franklin. He grew up in Upland but has lived in New York City for three decades.David Allen, who has an IE state of mind, writes Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Email dallen@scng.com, phone 909-483-9339, and follow davidallencolumnist on Facebook or Instagram, @davidallen909 on X or @davidallen909.bsky.social on Bluesky.Roads, off-ramps closed in Downtown LA, East LA as fans celebrate after Dodgers win Game 7 of the World Series Roads, off-ramps closed in Downtown LA, East LA as fans celebrate after Dodgers win Game 7 of the World SeriesCharlisse Leger-Walker’s time has come for UCLA women’s basketballNotre Dame football edges Chaminade in Mission League thriller15 DUIs, still driving: California’s failure to take repeat drunk drivers off the road
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