Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" goes "they paved paradise, and put up a parking lot." Well ... what if they tore down a cool place to ... improve public transit? (Insert sound effects of a Progressive's head exploding here.)

Anyway, that's what happened. The Atomic Cafe, at 422 East First Street in Little Tokyo, was a famous punk gathering spot. It closed in 1989 and the building was demolished in 2015 to make way for the subway's Regional Connector.

But luckily for Off-Ramp listeners, dublab's Mark "Frosty" McNeill created an audio love letter to The Atomic Cafe that debuted on Off-Ramp in 2016.

And when I wrote to let Mark know, he wrote back:

The timing of the podcast episode is perfect. We're actually having a free, all ages event on Saturday, May 7th 4-8pm at Union Station to celebrate the Deep Routes radio series I've been producing with Metro Arts. 

You don't need to RSVP, just put it on your calendar now, and show up on the 7th in your hightops, ripped skinny jeans, and Union Jack t-shirt. 

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

(Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.)

This story is weird even by today's standards. It starts in Milwaukee, where Dolly Oesterreich secretly kept her teen lover Otto in the attic of the house she shared with her husband Fred. When Dolly and Fred moved to L.A., Otto moved, too; and was reinstalled in the attic of the Oesterreich's house in Silver Lake.

Everything was fine until one night in 1922, and for the rest of the story, we turn to Robert Petersen, host of the podcast The Hidden History of Los Angeles.  

But wait, there's more ... I've updated this story with a new interview that may creep you out as much as the original version, which was broadcast on 1/29/2017.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

(Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.)

Don and Chris Murray finally go to Night of a Hundred Stars together ... Jon Bon Jovi and Steve Lopez go to a homeless shelter together ... Queena Kim gets together with a beer float ... RIP Bobby Espinosa, and thanks for "Viva Tirado" ... CyberFrequencies watches an episode of iCarly with its target audience: kids.

Lisa See's "Shanghai Girls" - sisterhood, immigration, fear, and acceptance ... the future of theatre in Southern California ... Dinner Party Download ... Avatar v. Lorax ... rare beer.

The New York Times Plagiarism Problem ... Randolph Mantooth says "give now and be prepared for an 'Emergency'" ... Nicholas Meyer on The Wrath of Khan ... CyberFrequencies and life on the web ... and how Dinner Party Download makes your life better.

CyberFrequencies talks with Ray Bradbury ... A new documentary: "Finding God in the City of Angels" ... Karen Fritsche invents the Love-o-Meter to weigh driving and dating ... A new butcher in Los Feliz ... Jeff Girod says Obama was right about Vegas ... "Lincoln Echoes."

Dinner Party Download ... "Up!" gets best pic nom, we talk with Ed Asner ... Queena tastes a bacon donut ... Steve Julian tastes at least six tequilas but no margaritas ... Remembering journalist and author Tomas Eloy Martinez, who bared the soul of Argentina.

Ringo Starr in concert and conversation ... Providence's Michael Cimarusti learns secrets and legacy of Japanese cuisine ... the DineLA family tree of chefs ... CyberFrequencies on life on the web ... Animators hold benefit auction to help comatose teen ... Local troupe performs Steve Martin play with Picasso and Einstein.

Editor breaks up with LA Times ... Dinner Party Download ... the lost tapes of Bobbie Gentry.

How to be Doo Dah Queena ... Steven Cuevas' prison special report ... Remembering Leon Lyon, who helped bring Kahlua to America ... CyberFrequencies talks with the father of virtual reality ... and more.