Pamela Rouse []

Tony Pardines of Tony's Arts-N-Eats.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Tony Pardines didn't start out in hot dogs, rather he fell into it by chance. Pardines' background is commercial photography, video and film work. When the economy started to take a turn, he looked for a way that he could pursue his artistic side while making a living.

In March of this year, Tony took up the hot dog vending business and established his location in the heart of the Old Bank District's Harlem Alley.

Pardines says running a cart has low overhead and allows him to be a little creative when coming up with different hot dogs.

Many of the hot dogs are named after streets in Los Angeles. He has something called the "Mulholland" which is a bacon bacon Swiss dog. He named his Chicago style dog "The Wilshire," and the "The Fairfax" is a New York style dog, loaded with sauerkraut and served with brown, deli style mustard.

He likes to change his menu around, introducing new items now and again. He's planning to add iced teas (such as a Thai Iced tea), and some fresh fruit coolers with 100% fruit juice.

"Everything is fresh," he says, so if a dog or one of his "Art House" sandwiches isn't moving, he may choose to drop it from the menu.

Right now you can partner your dog or kielbasa with the usual suspects, soda, sparkling water, bottled water.. and a variety of "Tim's" brand chips (maker of Maui Onion kettle chips).

He runs the cart Monday through Friday from about Noon to 4 PM (or later if it stays busy). His long opening is Art Walk, when he comes in for his regular hours and stays through the whole evening. "I closed down around Midnight that night" he noted.

If he has a catering job or free-lance work and can't make it, he'll make sure customers know. "He's so nice," says frequent customer Mark Dean. "He'll leave a note on the wall if he can't make it." When that happens, he says he'll come back for lunch the next day.

"I like this neighborhood," Pardines says of the Old Bank District, proud that something as simple as a hotdog can make the people there happy.

, 116 1/2 W. 4th (in Harlem Alley), Los Angeles, CA 90013

Besides serving up a really good dog, Pardines caters events as well. Inquiries can be made at