Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Danger Dog

OK. So, this is going to be a stretch. And I'm freaking hungry now, a little after midnight. But this does relate to writing. A little. Just hold on.

Ask anyone in L.A. what this is, and they'll tell you. This lovely treat is called a Danger Dog.

Ask anyone in L.A. when and where you get these, and they'll tell you. It's an after-club L.A. delicacy, and people are frying them up in club parking lots or on the sidewalks outside bars. Or, uh, maybe it seems like a delicacy when you're leaving your favorite night spot, are super hungry, and have just enough singles left to shell out $2 or $3 for one of these numbers.

These hot dogs, wrapped in bacon (seduced by bacon, that's me!), and slathered with mayonnaise, mustard, grilled onions, and a whole jalapeno pepper are FAB-u-lous at 3 am. I know. I had one on Saturday night/Sunday morning. You can only get them from street vendors who work the after-club scene.

Local treats or hangouts... Danger Dogs in L.A., Faygo Pop in Detroit (gimme a red pop!), Harold's Chicken in Chicago, Junior's in Brooklyn... can add to the authenticity of setting as you're writing your short story or novel. Not only are we capturing the "who does what" angle of the story, but we're also charged with setting the scene and developing the environment around the characters.

The city your story is located is very much a "character" and these local goodies are things that contribute to a well-developed character. It's kinda cool when you're reading a story or novel, and you recognize the characters' favorites or hang-outs as your own.

Kinda like another L.A. goodie... that anyone who's spent time in the gay scene can tell you about.... talk about adding authenticity to your location. R-r-r-r-r-osas!

Now, why we call them Danger Dogs? That's a whole 'nother story, but your characters can certainly share their perspectives in your short story or novel.
fs

4 comments:

Dubbed As Trent Jackson said...

I would never...
But I do want my picture with the RRRRRRRRRRR-OSES. CHICK!

Joseph said...

ha! they have something similar in madrid. looks yummy! i wonder how many calories.

Marz said...

I think those things do add to the authenticity of books and the setting. Though they can be confusing at times for people who don't know. Because all the L.A. Bloggers knew about the roses girl; but I was like, "WHAT?"

I remember when I worked in the library one of the librarians was tlaking about the novel maniac Magee and how when she lived in INdiana she had no idea what a butterscotch krimpet is. But in philly, not knowing what a butterscotch krimpet is, is like not knowing what a cheesesteak is.

I think about small things like that when I write, because although I want everyone to understand what I'm saying, I also want it to be close and sort of colloqial.


-Marz

That Dude Right There said...

In Birmingham, it was The Purple Onion after the club.

I remember heading to Maxwell's or Leon's barbeque after the club in Chicago.

But in ATLANTA we support our home grown WAFFLE HOUSE!