The first step of today's tour introduces a variety of Chevrolet's that vary in color and sculpted angles as much as the artistic ink found on one person to the next. Assorted media representatives gather before the equally colorful and iconic image of West Hollywood's Pacific Design Center. After receiving warm greetings and introductions from Chevrolet representatives, we scatter to select a car to test drive to our next location. A hard decision to make as we look over a selection of vehicles that run the gamut of consumer interest from the luxury and power of a Cadillac CTS-V Coupe to the more practical all-electric Chevy Volt. Others were pulled toward seemingly contradiction found in the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid or Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid as well as two different Camaro offerings of the 2SS convertible or hardtop. From this complex temple of design, our group leaves for it's first destination. Appropriately, it's not a long road rally-like drive but a quick trip down Melrose Avenue. The luxury and enviro-friendly atmosphere of our GM vehicles seem to shield us from the honking horns, middle fingers and other negative influences so typical of L.A. drivers.
 

As I exit the vehicle, I am reminded how much of the joy of owning one of these cars comes from it's external beauty. As we park, we discover other sources of the visual arts upon entering Body Electric at 7274 ½ Melrose Avenue. 'Tattoo parlor' seems so limiting of a title for what this business, and others like it, actually produce. Thanks to reality TV and body ink growing in popularity, the old stereotype of a smoke-filled tattoo joint filled with drunken sailors getting a dim sum recipe on their arm is long gone. Inside Body Electric's second floor studio you find a colorful eclectically decorated gallery. This isn't a place to rip a page from a catalog and hand it to the person behind a register to ask, "how much is dis one?"  Body Electric and successful shops like it understand the importance of working with a client to find the image that suits them best and even altering it if necessary to best meet a customer's needs. Passing a hallway collection of turn-of-the-century erotica post cards revealing tattooed women, owner Brian shows us the back room where they conduct private piercings of genitals and the occasional piercing of infants ears.

As we head off to our next stop, the groups scatter into a different vehicle than the one in which they arrived to expand their experience in these GM cars. Our drive delivers us to 7213 ½ Santa Monica Blvd., at Velvet Grip Tattoo. Though easily missed when driving down the old route 66, it's fame precedes it having done work for Drew Barrymore, Tommy Lee and Kiefer Sutherland. Much like other salons, they to execute body piercing and carry quite a selection of unique body jewelry.  We are greeted by owner 'The Todd', who is adorned with head to toe tattoos including a detailed green colored pattern on his face which to seem to give homage to Maori tribesmen. Having been featured on Ripley's Believe it Or Not as well as the series L.A.Ink, he directs us about the establishment and shows us machines used in his craft which he actually built.  Next, he escorts us to a back alley which, even in West Hollywood, should cause concern. Fortunately, we are protected by midday sunlight and discovered their warm rays beating down on two vehicles being restored by Todd and his colleague Mike. We see Mike's 1973 Volkswagen Bug and The Todd's pride and joy, a vintage Chevy Van. Though still without it's final paint job, I imagine it with the words 'The Mystery Machine' painted on it's side because it was the exact model used in the animated Scooby Doo series.
 

Velvet Grip: 'The Todd'

Velvet Grip: Cool Rides

Once more, we return to the curb and scatter like lemmings to drive one more different vehicle than our last. Our last stop is called The Honorable Society Tattoo Parlour & Lounge, located at 8424 W. Santa Monica Boulevard. The largest among today's trio of salons, it's Victorian decor gives one a sense of such nostalgia that I felt I should remove my hat even though I wasn't wearing one. The assortment of framed wall art covering the Renaissance to early 20th century simply echos the unique variety of tattoo work and styles found at this shop. What brings this museum like display? Well, that fact that owner Marco Cerretelli came to America from Florence Italy in 2002 might have something to do with it. Marco has brought his professional skills and eye for talent to the city of West Hollywood barely a year ago and already has developed a substantial following. The salon's dedication to giving every customer their own masterpiece is confirmed with the following quote found on their website,  "Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud" - Sophocles.

Upon our return to the Pacific Design center, our group takes one final look at the impressive GM vehicles we have driven today. We may not have seen the USA in our Chevrolet, but we enjoyed introductions to the uniquely creative minds, who like GM car designers understand while we shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, the outside is certainly what draws our interest in discovering what's on the inside.
 

GM's Blog: http://www.thefutureiselectric.com
Body Electric: http://www.bodyelectrictattoo.com
Velvet Grip: http://www.velvetgripfamily.com
Honorable Society Tattoo Parlour & Lounge: http://www.thehonorablesociety.com