Picks&Pans: Around the town

City Hall opens by appointment on Monday. To make an appointment to go to www.weho.org and in the search bar type ‘appointment for in-person services’. The portal to make the appointment goes live tomorrow July 26th.

WEHOville readers inquired whats going on with Motherlode? Motherlode the world famous longest lasting gay bar in the heart of Boystown is planning to re-open in mid-august. They have remained closed pending completion of interior renovations which is extra slow while City Hall remained closed.

The rumor mill and most asked question to WEHOville is ‘what is happening with Marix, and Basix, – and the best answer we are told is the ladies are separating and working out the details. Vicki and Mary have been serving West Hollywood for years and years and are part of the fabric of the city. We sure hope they are able to work things out and re-open those businesses.

Otherwise, look to good old City Hall to buy that property. City Hall loves to buy property at above-market prices. The purchase of Basix would mean the City of West Hollywood would own the entire block of Santa Monica Blvd across from City Hall from Kings to Sweetzer.

Another update on the Yogurt Stop girls, – and the other highest profile lesbian owned business in town>. .. well last week’s story about the note they left on their door concerning their issues with their landlord was our top rated story of the week. So all we can do is wish the parties work out their disagreement and do what is best for the community. We need more community serving businesses like the Yogurt Stop.

Stache the new ‘vegan’ ‘nightclub’ is also getting set to open at the old Cafe De’Toile space. Incidentally owned by the same landlord as Yogurt Stop.

And finally Gym Bar has completed most of the exterior renovation and will be an exciting addition to the corner of Hilldale and Santa Monica Blvd. The new entrance is on the Hilldale side and the front patio has been extended.

On another note the Gold Coast has seen some activity lately, we have yet to confirm what is happening inside but the doors have been open with workers in and out over the past few days.

And finally the Standard Hotel, is closed. There were 23 hotels in West Hollywood, now there are 22, and the ‘double the day pay rules’ are setting up for a mighty big challenge. For those not paying attention the city council voted to surpass federal law guidelines and approved language which included, if any housekeeper works over 8 hours per day then the entire day’s pay will be double time. The entire day. Those rules only apply to the non-union hotels. If your a unionized hotel the workers can work more than 8 hours and do not get double the days pay. So the union hotels do not have to pay their worker’s the double-time but non-union hotels do. That’s the new equity. Thats the new equality. Welcome to the new Weho.

PS there are four councilmembers who voted for that double pay rule inside the ordinance. Mayor Pro-Tem Meister stood alone with questions on this ‘double standard’ and she gets our Profile In Courage Leadership Award for this week in West Hollywood.