Enterprising Kid Uses Lectern to Do Homework While Waiting for Howlin’ Ray’s

Keep it real

The lines at Howlin’ Ray’s are nothing to scoff at. The Chinatown hot chicken stars usually play to crowds that stand around for hours waiting for a chance to eat — though some have tried to bypass the line unsuccessfully by paying someone else to wait — and so it should not come as a terrible surprise that plenty of folks are finding ways to keep themselves busy. Still, this enterprising young person using a mobile podium lectern to actually do homework, in the rain, might just take the cake for best use of a Howlin’ Ray’s line yet. Kudos to them.

[Update] Eater has learned that this is technically a lectern, not a podium. We regret the error.

Bygone burgers

The longtime Rally’s fast food drive-thru on Brand Boulevard at the edges of Atwater Village and Glendale has closed. The final day of service was January 31, with a chain coffee company rumored to be moving in.

Beach flips

Local kebab shop Crimson is reportedly taking over for the former Inotheke in Santa Monica, per Toddrickallen. Inotheke, meanwhile, says they plan to relocate.

Pasta to read

Check out this rad upcoming event that Now Serving is putting on. The Chinatown cookbook/kitchen tool shop is hosting a paid family-style Italian dinner with Rolando Beramendi and chef Stephen Murray of Terroni in Downtown over the weekend, and tickets include not only the meal but also a chat with Baramendi himself, author of new cookbook Autentico.

New reads

Longtime LA Times reporter Frank Shyong has a new place at the Metro desk, covering Los Angeles as a whole. The popular ethnic communities and race reporter for the Times will now lean into what makes LA fantastic, focusing on the “vibrant, ever-changing, international city defined by its diversity and its diasporas.” His introductory piece, naturally, talks about Chinatown, food, and the intersection of it all.

The stay-in plan

Don’t feel like leaving the house for Valentine’s Day? Helen’s Wines and the Jon & Vinny team are now doing combo takeout orders that include food from the restaurant and a bottle of wine. Order ahead.

Beer news

There’s a new craft beer brewery in Southern California. It’s called Wingwalker Brewing, and it is open now in Monrovia, though the real grand opening party won’t happen until Saturday. Check out all the details below, or at the Eventbrite link.