The Cow's End Cafe -- Washington Blvd. & Pacific Ave.

The Cow's End Cafe is a bit of a mystery at first. The coffee is just okay. It's not the sort of place that will deliver an aesthetically pleasing food experience. You have to buy something in order to use Wi-Fi. And yet there is something about the Cow's End that's kind of appealing. I visited once in the morning and another time in the afternoon. I had a different experience each time.

The first time, I sat downstairs on a bar stool right in front of a large window next to the door. The corner that I sat in smelled like other people had been there before. Not exactly like a gym, but the air was a little stale. Note to self: sitting near a doorway does not guarantee breezes nor fresh air. For some reason, I'm reminded of a college pizza place.

But the positive point was that I was in the perfect spot to watch the world go by. It was one of those afternoons when the sun is really strong and the sky is very blue and you're excited about living in Southern California. The Cow's End is less than a block from Venice Beach.

Deeply tanned French people sat at a sidewalk table. One of them was barefoot, which gave a holiday air to the scene.