Mixing the lab
Alice's wonderland on a patio
The Lab Anti-Mall 2930 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Walking in was like entering a world of Alice's wonderland of dreams remembered. With the water flowing from the adjoining art installation and “Nook” the coffee bar.
Over the doorway was a neon sign "this is a bar".
The patio was enclosed by a wall of greenery and the mismatched used furniture made from amusement parks of bygone days.
The art hidden in on the ground of discarded cigarette butts, in the old tangled Christmas lights and on the walls.
Entering the bar welcomed me was the smell of Palo Santo. Every surface was an altar and the music playing over the speakers was familiar to someone who prayed to hip hop Gods.
The customer in front of me announced her arrival from another country. The filler in her lips covered in bubble gum pink lipstick as she made friends with the bartender.
Behind the bar was Barbie or June. Or maybe she said her name was Eric. Screens playing clips of music videos in flashes long enough to recognize if you're old enough to know who it is but short enough to be an easy distraction while waiting for a drink.
Something in the art and the altars was dark humor and an inside joke. The funniest thing on the menu in the door was the Fernet branca no description of the drink just the question "who hurt you?"
As I sat with my feet propped up being artsy and shit, pink bubble gum looked at me and said the chair I was sitting in was made for me. Could I reign supreme in a wonderland of dreams and remembrances of days gone by?