Hang outs. Watering holes. Diners. It’s the small spot that keeps this country on the go. The family owned business is the heartbeat of this great country and the South Bay of Los Angeles is dotted with places that are hard core watering holes. As we enter a new phase of shutdown, I will be writing about the places that I love and hope endure these tough days.

The shut down has been and is difficult. I’m not here to speak of the rights and wrongs of the shut down. This is not a political page. I want to applaud, laud and give love to the spaces and people I care about.

BAR OF THE WEEK– The Hangar Inn

I love The Hangar. Not like. Love. I spent my youthful years of L.A. in Venice amidst the Canals and Abbot Kinney. I’ve written about my affection and love for Baja Cantina but I would spend copious amounts of my weekends on the Hermosa Beach Pier. It was on the pier that I became friends with the character of characters, Harold Kinsley. Harold is a blog all onto himself and I have, lovingly, given him the moniker, The Mayor. Harold introduced me to his friend and business partner, Dean Moss and their Taj Mahal, The Hangar Inn.

The Hangar is a spot that any person in the South Bay has entered at least once; most regulars enter more than once a day. An ode to Blue Collar and the days when workers at local hangars could enjoy a beer and burger at lunch, the Hangar isn’t merely a watering hole but a spot that serves terrific food out of the tiniest of kitchens (and it isn’t really a kitchen). Great tacos with a delightful green sauce highlight the bar menu but, for me, they have the most underrated burgers in town (forgive me, I’m a turkey burger guy).

And the beer is always cold. An eclectic beer list, you can sip on any number of IPA’s as well as local breweries, such as the wonderful HopSaint. But, you can get a beer anywhere and you can grab a burger on most any menu. I go to The Hangar for the people.

The owners, Harold and Dean are good people (Maria and Tara are their great ladies) and they hire the same. During this pandemic, they’ve worked hard and diligent and put forth the effort required to withstand the siege of 2020. The regulars are a mash up of locals from all elements of the socio-economic ridge. I rarely enter and not know at least one of the customers and usually I know that I’ll run into five or ten friends. It’s a spot handed from generation to generation and friend to friend.

They’re serving take-out for now but will be back as soon as possible. Go down to Aviation and Manhattan Beach Blvd. and give them your business. Grab some tacos, burgers or even a Breakfast Burrito. The Hangar is what William Faulkner described as ‘Local color’. It’s one of my favorite spots and a place to call home.

A Tip of the Cap this week to Kendall Hinton, this past week’s starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos. As a Wide Receiver on Denver’s practice squad, Kendall wasn’t planning on playing this past Sunday… at the position he’s paid to play, Wide Receiver. But prior QB’ing experience made his appearance necessary as all four of the top QB’s were out for COVID protocols (one of the QB’s tested positive, Jeff Driskel). I can’t imagine the thoughts that ran through Kendall’s head when he learned he would be playing Sunday against the Saints but at a position he hadn’t played in SIX YEARS. It’s roughly the equivalent of a Gynecologist being called on to perform open heart surgery (probably not as dramatic). But he didn’t complain and although he was dreadful, he gets a thumbs up from me for displaying the heart of a champion. I Tip my cap to you Kendall!

And a Wag of the Finger to the other three Denver Quarterbacks who did NOT follow the protocols issued by the NFL and thus were ineligible to play and cost their team any shot of winning. Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles should have to run the teammate gauntlet for the selfish behavior that doomed their team and sent out a green horn (sorry Kendall) of a QB to get battered by the Saints D. I can’t imagine any of those guys playing in Denver next year. A Wag of the Finger is in order for those reprobates and the shame they brought to that awful game.

So that’s it for me this week. I know the times are tough but it feels like good times are right around the corner. Be good to one another and be fair with yourself. WE can get through this. But until then, my friends, take my advice; pull down your pants and slide on the ice.

Kevin R. Andrade