Dreaming of a late-night eatery

Tonight a friend and I set forth on foot from the house at 8:45, intent on eating dinner. I called ahead to Futami, and they said they stopped serving at 9 or 9:15. If I got there in ten minutes, I asked, would the kitchen still be open? Yes, I was told. Well, when I got there I stepped inside only to be faced with a handwritten "CLOSED" sign, that must have just been taped to the wall. Surely it wasn't there ten minutes ago when I had called. I peeked around and saw a few diners. None of the staff glanced my way. I wrinkled my nose and stepped back the way I had come in. I was mildly peeved, but shrugged it off, thinking that it would be simple to walk down Myrtle and find another restaurant open.

Most restaurants serve until 10 or 10:30, I mused. I thought of Tidal Wave. CLOSED. Walked past Bella Sera, but didn't go in as I had eaten there recently and wasn't in the mood for Italian. Passed Mundial. I was, however, in the mood for Rudy's or Sweet Garlic. Damn! Both CLOSED. We knew that there wasn't much more ahead except for the burger stand and so turned around and walked back. Mundial it would be. The sign on their door didn't indicate a closing time, but one of the Mundial staff said the kitchen was closed. My hungry friend was watching a couple place their appetizer order. He pointed out this fact to the stone-faced gatekeeper, and the man begrudgingly said he would ask the kitchen. He didn't crack a smile. He came back and quietly got us menus. I felt a twinge of guilt, as if I was keeping him from his family, or some important task he would have to postpone.

We sat down and I stared across at the quiet street. "Monrovia sure gets quiet early," I said. "It could use a bit more foot traffic, but not so much that it would change the character of life here." That got me thinking about the Gold Line again. I often wonder if it will be as vitalizing as I imagine it could be. I often compare Monrovia to Pasadena, at the very early stages of its transformation, but now I think that it has gone overboard, especially with chain stores, sheer volume of visitors and lack of parking. I used to love going there, but have done so less and less in the last couple of years.

Monrovia still has that homey, small town feeling. I hope that never changes. I just want to be able to eat dinner after 9. Too bad I'm not into Wings or I'd go to the Wing Stop, "Open 'til Midnight."