Tour centers on Charles Bukowski's L.A.

Want to walk in the steps of a famous, dirty old man? Well, now you can do just that.

Esotouric -- L.A.'s funky, off-beat tour service -- is offering Haunts of a Dirty Old Man: Charles Bukowski's Los Angeles.

The tour, which began today at 12:00 p.m. and runs until 4 p.m., meets promptly at 11:30 a.m. at Philippe the Original in downtown Los Angeles. Call (310) 995-4591 for last-minute bookings.

For $58, you can see how the famous poet lived and died -- tracing his steps at all his famous haunts, including his apartment on DeLongpre Avenue, the Pink Elephant liquor store in East Hollywood, Skid Row and many other bars and neighborhoods that the writer loved.

This has got to be the easiest way to be Bukowski for a day. Don’t forget to pack your flask.

-- Lori Kozlowski

Photo: Los Angeles Times