Just had lunch at Culver City’s ROYAL/T, an art space and café.  The cafe is inspired by the maid cafés of Tokyo’s electronic district, Akihabara.  There, they’re known as meido kissa, and they tend to the underground otaku (geek) culture that celebrates cosplay (costume play).  ROYAL/T’s waitresses are dressed like Lolita maids but are not at all cheesy.  The place looks more like a freer, younger museum cafetria, complete with a brilliant gift shop.  I enjoyed the food and will certainly come back for high tea.

And from the shop, I got this bunch of black paper roses.  Very ballet/goth, no?