The Mini Boss And My Santee Alley Flashback

A new one from Corridor Digital:

My Unarmed In Downtown L.A. Rant:

The start of the video might be (probably is) filmed in and around Santee Alley in L.A..  When I was there a few years ago we heard it was neat so we went and checked it out.  I HATE places like that… knockoffs, cheap garbage, bartering, wall to wall people… my worst nightmare.  Not to mention the fact I went into Starbucks to get an iced coffee with plans to use the bathroom, and the lineup was too big so I decided to forgo the iced coffee and just use the bathroom and bounce.  Unsurprisingly (because were’re talking downtown L.A.) the bathroom was locked up like Fort Knox and when I asked for the key they told me I had to buy something.  The barista told me there was a free bathroom across the street inside a building, down a hall etc.. so I went on a mission to find it.  My mission takes me inside this building with more Santee Alley style crap, but mostly fabrics in this case… I take a left down the one hall she talked about.  My spidey sense is tingling because the hallway is very long poorly lit, has lots of little doors off of it… generally pretty shady looking.  One of the doors opens behind me as I walk past, I turn around and some late 20s looking gangbanger type steps out and starts eyeing me.  Instantly he’s on his blackberry typing something (texting I assume) while watching me.  I see a sign at the end of the hall that says “Bathroom –this way–> $1”.   I was incredibly uncomfortable at this point not only because I had to pee, but I also felt like I was walking into some sort of setup to get my ass kicked.  I aborted the mission, turned around walked right past gangbanger and maintained eye contact while he grinned at me, a grin as If I was about to get jumped.  After what seems like an eternity I make it back out onto the street and get the hell out of there.  Was the Starbucks barista in on some sort of setup for tourists to get robbed?  I’ll never know.

I know what your thinking; “cool story bro” haha

Anyone else ever been in a potential “situation” like that? Ever experienced Santee Alley?  Points if you’ve been to NYC Canal St., basically similar crap on a larger scale.


Comments

26 responses to “The Mini Boss And My Santee Alley Flashback”

  1. Thats what you get for bringing a… gun… to a… knife fight?

  2. I know exactly what you’re referring to; that Starbucks is on the corner of Santee and 9th street. I actually work, and have been working at a parking lot near there on Wall street. I hate going to the alley, because I can’t stand the crowds, etc., and working at the lot is no picnic, but it’s a job and I can’t complain too much about it. I’ve had my concerns about keeping a wad of cash on me while working, but everyone I meet while working is either really cool, or just incredibly stupid. Neither of which give me a tingly spidey sense. It doesn’t hurt that while I am not latino, I can blend in just fine.

    To each his own, now that I think of it, Santee alley is just a bazaar, so one should treat it that way and be wary.

    1. ENDO-Mike Avatar

      Santee alley is just a bazaar, so one should treat it that way and be wary.

      Yea true. Sketchiness is hard to avoid in places like that.

  3. Muzzle flash with a silencer?

    I get the need to show that the gun is firing, but this is what happens when filmmakers don’t get a chance to play with the real thing before putting it out on film.

    1. Jusuchin (Military Otaku) Avatar
      Jusuchin (Military Otaku)

      It’s where they live, remember, EEEEEEHHHHVVVHHHILLL Silencers.

      1. The Free States of Nevada, Utah and Arizona are close by, though. No reason to remain ignant if you can get practice in with the real thing for the price of a new point n shoot camera.

        1. Jusuchin (Military Otaku) Avatar
          Jusuchin (Military Otaku)

          Clearly we need to invite Freddie and his roommates (since I last checked, CorDig rooms with Freddie and Brandon) out and give em a day or two on the range.

          That or it was just oversight.

  4. In the behind the scenes vid he racks the slide.. and “jokingly” points it wat the camera man, pulls the trigger. Obviously airsoft or something and it sounded like it shot a pellet. Just saying.

  5. Is every shotgun in every movie, tv show, or short film carried with an empty chamber? How funny would to be pheasant hunting with someone and see them pump the action on their shotgun every time a bird was flushed?

  6. Ernest Young Avatar
    Ernest Young

    I’ve had a similar experience, when I was just a tad younger, maybe 17, I was on my way to my aunt’s apartment. Which was less than 3 minutes by foot from my grandparents house. As I was walking through the parking lot these 3 Latino kids (no issue with Latinos, just being descriptive), probably high-school freshman, start walking parallel me. The oldest of them smiles at me in a very menacingly. I continue on my way. They fall back, the oldest of them picks up a large limb on the ground. and begins to follow behind me at maybe 15 yards. It happened to be one of the rare days I do not have a knife on me (usually I carry a Filipino hand-made balisong). Either way I know he’s coming towards me, he’s gaining on me and it’s obvious he’s out for trouble. Sooooo, I pulled out my phone (which happened to at the time be a black Motorola RAZR with a nice thick black case on it). Keeping it closed I drew it up in front of me, close to my body and gripped it from the bottom like a handgun so that it was a long rectangle protruding forward from the top of my fist.

    I spun around, assumed a weaver stance, cupped my fist with my other hand (like when shooting), closed one eye, and pointed the closed phone directly at the asshole. His friends all darted away and he scurried behind a parked car and from there ducked behind an apartment building and ran away with his friends.

    I felt so smart, and was a tad surprised it had actually worked, but from that distance I’m sure all they knew was that it was a thin but tall black object and from the way I was holding it and my body language they assumed it was a pistol. It could easily have NOT worked, but I’m glad it did.

    1. As I was walking through the parking lot these 3 Latino kids (no issue with Latinos, just being descriptive)

      Why not height, weight, hair length, facial hair or not, glasses or lack thereof, etc. Sounds like you hate Latinos!

      The oldest of them smiles at me in a very menacingly.

      Maybe that’s a friendly gesture in their culture. You’re just suffering from a little culture clash you insensitive bastard!

      …the oldest of them picks up a large limb on the ground…I pulled out my phone (which happened to at the time be a black Motorola RAZR with a nice thick black case on it). Keeping it closed I drew it up in front of me, close to my body and gripped it from the bottom like a handgun…I spun around, assumed a weaver stance, cupped my fist with my other hand (like when shooting), closed one eye, and pointed the closed phone directly at the asshole.

      Sounds to me like three young men with dark complexions (possibly of Latino ancestry) were walking along picking up debris so that no one tripped over it and injured themselves, and you scared them half to death by pretending to have a pistol. That’s assault! You’re lucky one of these young men didn’t have a concealed weapon and shoot you in self-defense! :)

      1. Ernest Young Avatar
        Ernest Young

        Yeah, sure. I’m the bad guy. Also meant to say “smiled at me in a very menacing way”

        1. …meant to say “smiled at me in a very menacing way”

          I knew what you meant. I didn’t want to be a grammar Nazi, or any kind of Nazi. I don’t want to be affiliated with Nazis, because I respect all cultures and ethnic backgrounds (even Latinos, you hate-filled supremacist). Especially those of the Jewish faith. When I was a kid my grandmother used to tell me to be nice to the Jewish kids or else they’d put the Sheeny Curse on me.

          :)

          1. Ernest Young Avatar
            Ernest Young

            I’m Jewish, what are you trying to say?

            1. I’ll have to defer that question to my press secretary, Mel Gibson…

              Actually though, that line is from one of the funnier exchanges in the movie Clerks 2. Not a terrible movie; it had its moments.

      2. Molon Lobe Avatar

        Three white guys, drinking Dos Eqquis, speaking Spanish, and making gang signs….

        Satisfy you now chump?

    2. ENDO-Mike Avatar

      haha that’s pretty good. I’ve “adjusted” my belt and kept my hand back there in the past to give the illusion of carrying when I wasn’t. I never thought to pull out a “fake” gun though, but that’s a good idea in the heat of the moment if the conditions were right (as they were in your incident).

  7. Was the Starbucks barista in on some sort of setup for tourists to get robbed?

    I don’t drink coffee, but I’ve always been under the impression that Starbucks itself engages in what might appropriately be called “highway robbery.” Maybe it’s not such a big jump to accessory to robbery. I propose that ripping people off with overpriced coffee is a gateway crime that leads a barista down a path to violent crime and self-destructive behavior. I better write a grant proposal and get some money from the government to study this hypothesis.

    1. ENDO-Mike Avatar

      LOL nice one. I’ve seen grant money awarded for crazier ideas. :P

    2. Jusuchin (Military Otaku) Avatar
      Jusuchin (Military Otaku)

      Starbucks = 3-4USD for a ‘grande’ regular coffee.
      7/11 = 1.90 for 24oz, depending on where you go, flavor syrup and specialty flavored creamer. All free.

      1. ENDO-Mike Avatar

        I don’t consider myself a coffee connoisseur, but you can’t even compare Starbucks coffee to 7/11. Don’t even get my started about the 7/11 “lattes”… they are basically 99.9% liquid sugar.

  8. Anyone else ever been in a potential “situation” like that?

    Never was in a “‘situation’ like that” without a firearm, or at least some kind of general – and questionable – safety, such as witnesses. Without witnesses, in sketch-ass neighborhood, if things are REALLY questionable, I leave.

    Or if I have something to do briefly (less than 5 minutes), everything is left-handed except for holding/groping for firearms. :) I got this idea from watching and reading about “For a Few Dollars More.” and the Zatoichi series.

    Paranoid? No.
    But after reading the news on a daily basis, you could say I am concerned.
    Source of concern: http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/crime/70-year-old-man-raped-during-morning-walk

    BTW, how does one quote the OP or another?

    1. ENDO-Mike Avatar

      ugh that story is sickening.

      Oh and to quote someone you just have to use the html tag called blockquote. I tried to enter an example, but it didn’t show up as code, so you’ll have to just google it. It’s one of the few tags that are allowed in the comments along with bold and italics.

      1. ugh that story is sickening.

        Yes it is. And also the reason why I carry spares and BUG.

    2. Ernest Young Avatar
      Ernest Young

      Not really understanding 3rd line. What did you get the idea for from “for a few dollars more” and Zatoichi.

      1. Not really understanding 3rd line. What did you get the idea for from “for a few dollars more” and Zatoichi.

        It means I have a hand on my weapon or open for such almost at all times, while walking around. When I need to touch something, I use the left hand only. Of course, this is usually when going to and fro places, and not while seated at work. Though if I use a train, I will continue as if it is to and fro.

        Zatoichi conceals his sword in a cane.
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcB46t9s87s#t=7m32m