LAist just returned from that dreaded, onerous chore -- a weekday lunchtime run to the post office. In Hollywood, we’ve got the choice between long lines and grand architecture at Hollywood Station on Wilcox, or efficiency wrapped in corporate design drek at “cheap and tawdry” (in the authoritative words of the most recently updated Gebhard and Winter architectural guide) Hollywood + Highland. The latter’s near secret status helps ensure (for now) super speedy service; look for the USPS sign tucked behind CPK facing Highland just off Johnny Grant Way.

We’re sad to stray from our much beloved 1937 eclectic WPA moderne style civic structure designed by Beelman and Allison & Allison, but sometimes we gotta go where the procedure will be as quick and painless as possible. Plus it’s pretty remarkable that at H + H we’ve heard civil servants lament the boredom induced by the slow trickle of customers. This situation stands in great contrast to usual long waits and tear-your-hair out, extraordinarily unresponsive service of the Wilcox station. On rare occasions service can be surprisingly quick. In general, however, it’s not unusual to see folks lingering in slow lines getting, um, P.O.’d.

Despite the expanded consumer options there’s still a catch: Hollywood Station is the general service location for 90028 and 90068. So there’s no quick picking up those orphan packages at the sleepy H & H locale.