OK, there's some sort of crazy karmic warfare going on in my world right now that I can’t explain. For every cool thing that happens, something totally heinous is right around the corner. Case in point: I woke up early on Saturday morning to hit Amoeba as they opened the doors to indulge in a full-on vinyl orgy that was long overdue. But when I went out to my car, well, it wasn’t there. The city of Los Angeles thought my time would be better spent recovering my ride from some ghetto towing joint on a completely erroneous charge. Let’s just say the next time I run into Mayor Villaraigosa down at the club, he’s getting an earful and then some.

You want another? How about catching the amazing St. Vincent put on an incredible show at the Echo on Saturday night followed by a pretty sweet house party around the corner (Hi Becca). That’s where I took the above picture of one particularly rocking party person. All good, right? Sure, until I discovered that I’d left my credit card and ID back at the club when I opened a tab (I never claimed to be all that smart). Good times! Did I mention that the Echo was all out of Wyder’s Pear Cider, which is one of my favorite reasons for going there? Yes, both sides of the Force are duking it out big-time over here, and I’m caught in the crossfire. Wish me luck, and I'll let you know how things shake out. See you on the other side.

Ladies and gentlemen, he has left the building.

Bright and shining culinary star Josef Centeno set hearts fluttering and mouths drooling—especially mine—when he showed up behind the stove at Lot 1, what looked to be Echo Park’s answer to fine dining.

But he’s already out. Gone. Fled. And it’s devastating. No, I’m not exaggerating. The restaurant will not—there’s no way—be the same without him. Centeno is innovative and brought something new to the Eastside. Plus, he’s a hottie, and the more cute chefs in my hood, the better.

IMHO, Lot 1 owner Eileen Leslie just didn’t know what a good thing she had going. Sure, I’m more than a little biased. It’s hard not to be when, from day one, there were some serious F.O.H. issues. No one would answer the phone or confirm reservations. One night, my date wouldn’t stop kvetching about Leslie’s perfume. And, uh, I know firsthand how she deals with media. (Be nice to photogs—they’re here to make your shizz look good.) Even so, I was obsessed with Lot 1. Obsessed! The food was just that good.

Centeno says he’s taking a break from cooking, but I just may have a read on his next moves. (Why yes, you can find out more in Metromix next week.) As long as he doesn’t leave L.A., I can live with him leaving Lot 1—neighborhood loss though it may be.