Jon's vs Von's

These are the 2 mainstays for groceries if you don't have a car. They offer 2 distinctly different shopping experiences.

Jon's is at Vermont and Hollywood right next to Barnsdall Park. Long lines, small aisles, tight corners but lots of ethnic flavor. You can buy cactus, Russian bread, mortadella, piroshkis, plantains and listen to languages besides English and Spanish. The parking lot is pretty dirty and the store probably isn't a model for the chain but it's an excursion in itself.

Von's is part of the Safeway chain. It's cleaner, not sparkly. Expect more of what you would get in a suburban shopping experience including the in store Starbucks. It's located down Sunset near the intersection of Hollywood and Sunset.

Then you can always ask Victor to take you for a ride to Trader Joe's or Whole Foods...