Dear Westside Rentals Guy,

You are a man, myth and legend. And your mythology in Los Angeles grows each and every moment.

The proof is in the pudding:

Here you are at your normal spot on Wilshire Blvd. outside the Westside Rentals office here in Santa Monica back in July of 2007. The quality is poor because I shot it with my camera phone (It happens):


And here you are again this past Monday (9 March 2009) night (approximately 9:46PM PDT) at the Los Angeles Kings game:


But - like a good informercial - wait there's more:

"He was the last person I expected to see here Monday night, at a poorly attended high school basketball game in Compton.

I figured he typically shows up at high-profile events to get the most bang for his company's buck. You know, Lakers, Dodgers, maybe an Angels game, never a Clippers game.

But here was the zany Westside Rentals guy, appearing at halftime of the Southern California regional first-round playoff game between Compton Dominguez and Santa Monica."
~ Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times sports writer: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/03/the-westside-re.html

Along with Mr. Bolch's encounter, let's add the first-person accounts I received from two loyal "Regards, Everyone" readers who state that they saw you at the main branch of the Santa Monica Library late in the afternoon.

Now, unless there are a LOT more of you (like the Blueman Group), you have had quite the evening. Allow me to construct a rough timeline for you on the evening in question, Monday, 9 March 2009:

• Late-afternoon: You are at the library in Santa Monica.


• Early-evening: Ben Bolch spots you at a basketball game in Compton. [N.B. The blog was posted at 10:17PM PDT; I would assume the event happened around 8PM PDT? 8:30PM PDT?


• Approx. 9:46PM PDT: I spot you at the Los Angeles Kings game at the Staples Center.

I'll be honest with you, Westside Rentals Guy. You are pretty incredible. And, apparently, you are EVERYWHERE.

The LA Times blog reveals that your name is Philip Parks. But to me and the hearts of millions of Angelenos who love what you do, you will forever be: Westside Rentals Guy.

And in this time of economic unrest and the threat of terrorism always looming, isn't the Rock of Gibraltar-ness of your dancing what we really need in our life?

Our hats are off to you, sir.



Regards,
Everyone

PS: Kings won too!!

N.B. Video taken with my Canon PowerShot SD1100IS.