Day of the Locust, evening of pot roast

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This afternoon’s the time for a noir novel reading at L.A.’s only surviving 1930s cafeteria. It will be from Nathanael West’s black-humor (or noir-humor) view of Hollywood in the ‘30s, ‘Day of the Locust.’ It’s put on by a group called L.A. Reads (formerly known as Nobody Reads in L.A.), which describes itself as ‘a loose-knit group of individuals striving to create a stronger cultural, literary and historical sense of downtown Los Angeles.’

In this case, it can also give people a historical sense of downtown dining -- in Nathanael West’s day, cafeterias were L.A.’s most characteristic eateries. And Clifton’s Brookdale still serves a great panorama of the sort of Midwestern food Angelenos loved in those days. Don’t pass up the pies and cakes.

Clifton’s Brookdale, 648 S. Broadway, Los Angeles; (213) 627-1673. Reading takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. on the mezzanine floor -- look for the people with copies of the novel.

-- Charles Perry