My friend moved into a loft downtown a little over a year ago. For a few months, she would always complain about not having any good bars by her with people other than businessmen in their 40s lurking around.

But this was before she found Bar 107. Now, she's so smitten with the place that she celebrated her birthday there last month, and I was finally forced to check it out.

Of course, this is downtown, so actually finding a parking spot could take an hour. Since we got there around 11 p.m., we lucked out and found one only a block away. If you're not so lucky, there's public parking underneath Pershing Square for a flat rate after 5 p.m.

Being the audiophile that I am, the first thing I noticed when I stepped into Bar 107 was the music. No annoying house or club songs emitting from the DJ's turntables like most bars in Hollywood. Instead, old school rap, '80s pop, punk and classic rock filled the air.

As I breathed a tremendous sigh of relief about the pleasing aural soundtrack, I found my friends seated in one of the enormous booths lining the wall directly across from 107's extremely long bar. My eyes grew wide as they took in the plaid floor, vivid red walls, crystal chandeliers and 20-foot high tiled ceiling. And then, the kitsch hit me.

I felt like Alice falling down the rabbit hole as scary clown and velvet paintings, religious art and taxidermy deer heads sporting trucker hats with funny slogans and logos surrounded me. It was awesome.

I couldn't wait to look at everything in all of the bar's four rooms. Each held a different treasure. In the back, I found a smaller side bar with no line. In the dance room, there was a photo booth (which you all know is mandatory for any hipster hot spot in L.A.). In the smoking room, I found the only dark corners in the well-lit establishment, spots which should probably be avoided unless you've got some voyeur lurking inside of you.

After all of that exploring, I was in dire need of a drink. 107 had a full bar, and the cheap cocktails were poured with a heavy hand. Most of the patrons preferred to mingle with an ice-cold, jumbo-sized can of PBR or Schlitz in their hand.

On one wall, I spotted some flyers for upcoming live punk and jazz shows. I'm definitely going to check one out, as well as the Tuesday happy hour from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

I never thought I'd say this, but I just might have to start coming downtown more often.

Bar 107 is open seven days a week, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information, call (213) 625-7382 or visit www.myspace.com/bar107 .