The sign to The Warehouse, made of wide pylons, the text is in a stencil style, and yellow reading "The World Famous Warehouse Restaurant Since 1969 Lunch Dinner Cocktails Weekend Brunch Great Entertainment"

Marina Del Rey’s World Famous Warehouse Restaurant

August 31, 2018, 1 Comment

Situated right on the shore of Marina Del Rey looking out upon the variety of boats moored on the water, is the Warehouse Restaurant. This weatherbeaten warehouse looks like it has stood on the beach since at least the 1920s, but turns out, it was built to look like that…in the 1960s. In 1969 former…

To the left, the Babylonian arch/bridge, over six stories in height. A white elephant sits atop a pillar to the right, also towering over five stories tall.

The Shopping Mall Based on the Set of a Silent Movie Flop

August 29, 2018, 4 Comments

March 2022 Update: Ovation Hollywood, formerly known as Hollywood and Highland, is currently undergoing a $100 million remodel after being purchased for $325 million in 2019 by Gaw Capital, a Hong Kong real estate investment firm. The remodel started in 2021 with the removal of the elephants, and continues in removing the Babylonian elements, replaced…

Vintage Disneyland Postcards: Adventurelands

August 27, 2018, 4 Comments

Earlier I introduced a new postcard series where I would be sharing my vintage Disneyland postcard collection. And since it’s so large, I decided to split it up into each of the lands, beginning with Main Street USA. Today we enter the mysterious Adventureland. I think it’s important to note that when Disneyland opened in…

Inside the Redondo Fun Factory - wearing a vintage red shirt reading "Have a Coke and a smile" and wide leg blue jeans. In the background a variety of 80s arcade games, behind them a ton of vintage signs.

A Revisit to the Enigmatic Fun Factory

August 24, 2018, 5 Comments

UPDATE: The Redondo Beach Fun Factory closed October, 2019. Last year we visited the Redondo Fun Factory located on the Redondo Beach Pier after hearing news it would be closing. Over a year later the bizarre Fun Factory, with its eclectic variety of games and collection of odd signs, is still operating, but now has…

The building - two tall golden arches flank a slanted flat roof, and red and white tile wrap around the bottom. Walls of glass allow guests to walk up to the window and place their orders. The Speedee sign to the left.

The World’s Oldest McDonald’s

August 22, 2018, 7 Comments

Right here in Southern California, in the LA suburb of Downey (a place my father lived during part of his childhood), is the world’s oldest operating McDonald’s. It’s a unique claim to fame, and one some may pay no attention to, but, like it or not, fast food is an invention of America, and thus,…

A look at the Main Street Train Station, with "Greetings from Disneyland" across it. A floral version of Mickey greets guests.

Vintage Disneyland Postcards: Main Street U.S.A.

August 16, 2018, 9 Comments

Over the years I have shared selections from my vintage postcard collection, from Palm Springs to Portland, but I have never shared any of my vintage Disneyland ones! Today that changes! This is the first in what will be a series of five posts, each themed to one of the lands of Disneyland. Today we…

Carla and I in an old wagon that reads "Knott's Berry Farm Ghost Town California" on it.

Friendship is Golden

August 14, 2018, 4 Comments

Over the weekend my dear friend, and fellow blogger, Carla, of Tiny Angry Crafter, came to visit and on Saturday we spent the day at Knott’s Berry Farm. I recently scored this spectacular gold mining themed necklace and earring set at a vintage sale I vended at. Gold rush themed jewelry is extremely hard to…

Walking through the nursery, which is located along lengthy power lines that extend over the plants and into the distance.

A Visit to the Nursery

August 9, 2018, 1 Comment

When we bought our house, and it’s hard to believe we are nearing one year of home ownership, we had an almost barren backyard. Aside from some large bushes, a guava tree, and a large cluster of agaves, we had no grass, and a bunch of empty beds along the edge of the house. We…

The building, with its white low pitch roof, peeked in the middle, walls of glass, and flagstone at either end.

Mel’s Resurrects a Googie Masterpiece in Santa Monica

August 7, 2018, 4 Comments

Imagine traveling Route 66 in 1959, perhaps in a brand new stunning Chevy Impala. After days on the road you finally roll up to the intersection of Lincoln and Olympic (the true end of the Mother Road) in the beach city of Santa Monica, and you are greeted by a dapper looking penguin in a…

Dumbo ride vehicle, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride ride vehicle, with a devil in the background.

Forgotten Disneyland Attractions at the Van Eaton Pop-Up Exhibit

August 2, 2018, 1 Comment

Last week I was invited to a preview party of the That’s From Disneyland pop-up exhibit that just opened to the public yesterday, and it was all sorts of amazing. The pop-up exhibit showcases items from Richard Kraft’s collection, including vintage souvenirs, posters, ride vehicles and more. All of which will be going to auction…

Atomic Redhead

Month: August 2018

Marina Del Rey’s World Famous Warehouse Restaurant

The Shopping Mall Based on the Set of a Silent Movie Flop

Vintage Disneyland Postcards: Adventurelands

A Revisit to the Enigmatic Fun Factory

The World’s Oldest McDonald’s

Vintage Disneyland Postcards: Main Street U.S.A.

Friendship is Golden

A Visit to the Nursery

Mel’s Resurrects a Googie Masterpiece in Santa Monica

Forgotten Disneyland Attractions at the Van Eaton Pop-Up Exhibit