A low, single story building has an overgrown front yard area, and weeds growing through the cracks of the sidewalk. Banana trees have grown as tall as the roofline.

The Ghostly Remnants of the Old LA County Poor Farm

, 2 Comments on The Ghostly Remnants of the Old LA County Poor Farm

Within the small LA suburb of Downey sits what appears to be a ghost town. A mixture of overgrown, charred, and boarded up buildings sit behind chainlink fences topped with barbed wire, and gates locked with multiple padlocks. What is this ghostly place? It is what remains of the Los Angeles County Poor Farm. For those…

Read More…
Myself, sitting inside the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor, wearing a long, red dress with a small floral pattern, with lace trim at the laced V-neckline, and cuffs. A red "D" brooch edged in white is worn on my left shoulder, my hair in a Gibson Girl updo.

Valentine’s Day Lunch on Main Street

, 2 Comments on Valentine’s Day Lunch on Main Street

Over the years I’ve mentioned that I’m not the biggest fan of Valentine’s Day. But it’s slowly grown on me. However Patrick and I have never do anything big, and don’t exchange gifts. Since moving to California, I’ve used Valentine’s Day as an excuse to wear something red and/or pink, maybe with hearts, and go…

Read More…
Myself seated in front of the faux orange stand.

Tracing California’s Orange Roots at the Citrus State Historic Park

, 7 Comments on Tracing California’s Orange Roots at the Citrus State Historic Park

The orange is one of the most iconic things about California. Southern California’s climate makes it a perfect place to grow citrus, and thanks to advances in irrigation, processing, transportation, and the addition of the Washington navel orange, California’s citrus industry boomed in the late 1800s, as oranges and their citrus cousins made for California’s…

Read More…
The Moulin Rouge on a postcard from the period. A low roof building features towering script that reads "Moulin Rouge." A tall tower on the left also reads "Moulin Rouge" in neon, and also features a massive neon version fo the Eiffel Tower. Script across reads "Greetings from the Moulin Rouge"

The Fleeting Life of America’s First Integrated Casino, the Moulin Rouge

, 4 Comments on The Fleeting Life of America’s First Integrated Casino, the Moulin Rouge

“In Vegas for 20 minutes, our skin had no color. Then the second we stepped off stage, we were colored again. The other acts could gamble or sit in the lounge and have a drink, but we had to leave through the kitchen with the garbage.” That is how Sammy Davis Jr. described performing in…

Read More…

Let’s have a Party with Charlie Brown and Snoopy

, 2 Comments on Let’s have a Party with Charlie Brown and Snoopy

Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang are the icons of Knott’s Berry Farm, aside from the boysenberry that is! And normally the Charlie Brown’s beagle pal and the rest of the gang hang out in Camp Snoopy, but during Peanuts Celebration, which kicked off last weekend, they get to take over the entire park. Not only…

Read More…
Myself, wearing a white t-shirt, with a jean vest over, and jean shorts, standing in front of a Springfield Police car that has crashed into a lamppost in front of Lard Lad Donuts.

Greetings from Springfield

, 5 Comments on Greetings from Springfield

When Disney purchased 20th Century Fox, they also acquired the rights to The Simpsons. Which leaves the future of Springfield at Universal Studios a little uncertain. So, I decided it was high time to give Springfield its moment to shine here on the blog, because, honestly, the theming is pretty good, and gives a decent…

Read More…