I have a cousin who's a firefighter, and when you go to his house, he usually has nice glasses and…read morecups to use for drinks. Once he gets you all situated, he then opens another cupboard to reveal his "Man Cups." These plastic behemoths look like they can fit a liter in them, easy.
And now I know where he got the idea.
Man Cups are for men, much like the men that work at Fire Station 20. I've been here three times, but I was treated out to a Man Lunch on my second visit thanks to my man winning a lunch made by a true blue hero, firefighter and freshly crowned Masa M. Our man lunch consisted of an entire loaf of the round Hawaiian Bread cut in half, about an inch of ham, one layer of bacon, an inch of turkey, then an inch of cheese put in between. The whole thing is then quartered and there's your sammich. I also got to drink water out of a Man Cup, with option to put lovely flavorings in it like punch of lemonade.
Our lunch was pretty exciting, too! As we dined with other firefighters, they got a call from a speaker system, and everyone sprang into action. Fortunately, the call did not require the paramedic truck to go out, so we got to happily finish our meal and take the tour.
We were shown through the pretty spiffy entertainment room (where Masa showed us the computer where a lot of his Yelping magic happens), the locker room and individual showers (non-communal? That breaks my fantas-stereotype!) and their workout space and dorms, and if this place wasn't hot enough, this station has not one but TWO poles! And no...I didn't slide down the firemen's poles.
Soon enough the truck and engine returned, and I was taught the difference between the fire truck and the fire engine: the truck has the tools, the engine has the hoses. A small enough event would allow just the truck to go, but the engine must always to with the truck. AND THEN we got to take a ride IN the truck...which around the hills of Echo Park is pretty wild!
It goes without saying that a fire station, including the gear they wear, is ingeniously designed for efficiency, but it was really fascinating to see. The trucks and engines are no exception. Every space is utilized and there's a place for everything. It wouldn't take anyone that long to memorize how to access anything they needed at a moment's notice.
I'm not sure if you could tell, but this was my first real visit to a fire station, and I feel like a part of me can grow up now. It may be good that I never went when I was younger, because I either wouldn't have appreciated it, or I would have wanted to grow up to be a fire truck (and NO, not so firemen can ride me, thankyouverymuch).
(PLEASE NOTE: I do not mean to be sexist in this review by saying all the aforementioned cups and sandwiches and lunches are male exclusive, as women are men too, just with the WHOA)