X – Los Angeles 1981 (photo credit Michael Hyatt)
The Darkroom on Melrose, known for its retro jukebox and photo booth, is continuing its band retrospectives this week with “X.” The slightly divey lounge will be presenting exclusive photographs of the band by photographer Michael Hyatt starting this week. There will be a an opening reception on Thursday, April 16, from 7pm-10pm. Michael Hyatt is a world traveler heavily interested in street photography. After a visit to Ireland in 1979, he began documenting the Los Angeles punk scene from 1980-1986. “X” was impressed by one of his photographs of the Plugz, and soon he was touring with them, photographing the band both on and offstage. Michael Hyatt is quoted as saying, “…each member of X was visually unique and endlessly fascinating for this photographer.”
During the two-month exhibit, themed cocktails and bites named after X songs and albums will be on the menu. The first selection is a no-brainer: “The Hungry Wolf Burger” with white cheddar, bacon, and honey butter. There is a cocktail named “Big Black Sun” made with tequila, mint, passion fruit, orange, and a blueberry/mint syrup float. The bar pushes it a little further with the White Girl, which mixes lemon-basil infused rum, crème de pêche, pineapple gomme, and coconut-infused sparkling water. Shouldn’t it be made with Blue Curaçao. and Black Rum? Let’s just be grateful there isn’t a roofie-filled “Johnny Hit and Run Pauline” cocktail. The Darkroom 7302 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046 Fairfax
