The Dolly Factory, in Los Angeles’ historic Filipinotown, is probably the only sporting arena I will ever be excited to visit. I’m really not interested in sports at all. When I was young, I used to enjoy watching the Olympics, but now it reeks so much of corporate sponsorship and grotesque displays of nationalist pride, I find it unbearable. Roller derby, though, is an altogether different animal. Having many friends involved in it, I know it is truly a DIY, for-the-love-of-it sport, which I find truly admirable. And even though I find a lot of things about it kind of, shall we say, embarrassing, it’s still a lot of fun. When so much about athletics seems to be just about making money, it’s refreshing to see a sport where the athletes are actually spending their own money to be involved in it, as it is something of a cooperative movement. Roller derby seems to be continuing to grow more and more popular throughout the country, but the Los Angeles Derby Dolls are one of a minority of leagues that skate on a banked track, which is far more exciting than the more common flat track. And while I find all of the cheering and hooting at other sports vaguely repulsive, I am myself guilty of this at derby bouts.

Totally unrelated, I have a new favorite taco place… Tarasco’s. It’s not new, and it’s plenty popular with many people, but for a location,  right on Sunset between Silverlake and Echo Park, I’m pretty surprised that so few of my friends know about it or have eaten there before. The main draw for me are the vegetable tacos, which have grilled cauliflower, mushrooms, peppers, onions, zucchini… very delicious. They also have nice hours, being open until 3 am on Fridays and Saturdays.