These Just In

 

BEST CAFÉ WITH A CONSCIENCE WeHo Lounge.At first glance, the WeHo seems like any other trendy West Hollywood café, all stylish décor and pretty people. But unlike its neighbors, the WeHo houses an HIV/AIDS re source center and offers free HIV/ AIDS testing in a back room. The WeHo also hosts "The Cocktail Hour," a series of weekly discussions about AIDS treatments. Past topics include "Alcohol, Drugs, Nicotine and Protease — If I Would Have Known I Was Going to Live This Long, I Would Have Taken Better Care of Myself" and "I Can’t Take Another Pill." AIDS Healthcare Foundation founder and president Michael Weinstein says the introduction of protease inhibitors — a new, powerful class of AIDS drugs — prompted him to seek an informal way of educating people about available treatments. "We figured if we did it in a low-key way, mixing hanging out, cruising and socializing with information, testing and support, we’d have a chance of being successful with those people who wouldn’t go to an AIDS center, clinic or testing site." 8861 Santa Monica Blvd., W. Hollywood; (310) 659-6180. (David Caplan)

 

BEST CLOSET RADIO STATION KBLT.Finally, a radio station that lives up to San Francisco’s adventurous university-run KALX and KUSF and matches the subversiveness of KROQ’s glory days (circa ’78–’79). KBLT, a pirate radio station literally run out of a closet in Silver Lake, plays a refreshing mix of punk, soul, electronic, country, jazz and even French pop. The programming is so inspired, you may not need to buy records for a while — in fact, you may never want to turn your radio off. Taking the lead from Free Radio Berkeley, which is challenging the FCC’s authority to regulate micro-power broadcasting, KBLT started broadcasting Thanksgiving night, 1995, on a 37-watt transmitter with two hours of daily airtime. Now the station has expanded to 14 hours a day, offering shows such as Trans missions From Endor, 13 Miles Wide and even The Watt From Pedro (hosted by Mike Watt, Fridays, 8 to 10 p.m.). The bad news is that KBLT broadcasts only over a 5-mile radius, which may make you move to Silver Lake. Next time you’re within 5 miles of Spaceland between noon and 2 a.m., tune in to this musical oasis sandwiched by brain-pulverizing Groove Radio (103.1) and brain-dead (except for Rodney Bingenheimer, of course) KROQ (106.7). (Willy Banta)

 

BEST WHY AREN’T THERE HUNDREDS OF THESE? L.A. River bike path.Any flat, safe, fairly scenic stretch of ground reserved just for bicycles is good news in this town where biking can be as fun as trying to cross the freeway on foot. This new bike path runs along the L.A. River starting at Los Feliz Boulevard and ending at Riverside Drive. For about three miles you’re on a ribbon of asphalt that shoots by a view of the freeway (suckers!), our sadly gallant "river" and even ducks and cranes at certain times of the year. (Libby Molyneaux)

 

WORKSHOPS! SCREENINGS! EVEN THE HOURS ARE HIP! Velveteen Robot Bad Book Boutique.Owner Edi Vaché operates this bookstore/community center/progressive think tank more as a philosophic practice than a capitalistic enterprise. The shelves teem with approximately 3,000 titles — mostly obscure and out-of-print new and used counterculture literature. With frequent readings, writing workshops and indie movie screenings, the atmosphere is one of a friendly left-leaning salon. (Independent publishers and zines are welcome to submit publications for potential retail sales.) Even the hours are fringe — Thursday through Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. and beyond, depending upon the conversation. 3932 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake; (213) 660-1934. (Liam Finn)