In 1936, Musso & Frank, the oldest restaurant in Hollywood, responded to its growing popularity by expanding with an exclusive "Back Room" tucked behind the Vogue Theater. Angelenos desiring to converse with literary titans such as Faulkner, Fitzgerald, Hammett, Chandler and West could try to worm their way past an imposing doorman and into what was known informally as the Algonquin West. Nearly 20 years later, Musso's expanded to the east, reinstalling the famous, brass-accented bar in the "New Room," which shed the exclusivity of its predecessor. The writers kept coming, and they continue to do so, as much for the famous flannel cakes and dirty martinis as for the history. LAVA (Los Angeles Visionaries Association) honors this literary tradition with its inaugural, quarterly LAVA Salon at Musso & Frank featuring Dan Fante. The son of writer John Fante will read... More >>>