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.)

Rabe: It's (still) Cold Outside!; Animated Conversations; Drawing the Line; These Kids are Alright; And These Kids Aren't; Food for Thought; Go West Chef; Hammer Time; A Modern Collection; Low Merlot; Brad's Secret

Rabe: It's Cold Outside!; King in a Temple; Johnie's No More; A Little Night Music; Colombian Folk with a Twist; Eating in the City of Angels; Eating in 1984; No Big Deal; Apple Pared; Reporter's Roundtable

Off-Ramp Makes Friends and Influences People; Take a Hike; How Great Thou Art; Call Your Bookie; The emerging bank of America; Cheveux au natural; Beat It; Princess of Whales; So You're a Marine Biologist?; Rocky Un-Robed; Hit 'Em Where They Feel

Future City; Back to the Future; Mirror, Mirror; The Making of a Queen; Rose Rustler; Edward Scissorhands; New Art; Sana Sana; Resolutions; Call Sheet

A Christmas Carol Redux

Message from John Rabe This week we are doing a virtual broadcast from the Alhambra's Apocryphal Mall. (It's not on a map, hit "listen to entire program" to get there) Listen in as Off-Ramp regulars drop in to talk, share and scuffle! -John

Our Lady of the Ladle -- On DVD; Nunsense; Sweet Deal; The Making of "Sweet Land"; Eeny Meenie Mighty Mo; Menorah on a Mazda; OCMA Biennial; Reporter's Notebook; Mars Water Sponsor; A Public Good-Bye; Call Sheet; WEB EXTRA: Eye of the Tiger

It isn't easy being Green; Cello Fellow; Crime Buster; How Great Art Thou; Road to Hollywood; Blade II; Wining and Dining; Bozo The Bling-Bling Clown; Call Sheet; Reporter's Roundtable; WEB EXTRA: A Year-Round Winter Wonderland