Category

Architecture

I literally scream when I’m driving and I see a good looking building. Sometimes I take photos and scream at the same time.

Angled view of Johnie's Coffee Shop, a blue and stripe butterfly roof hangs low, with red letters reading "Johnie's Coffee Shop and Restaurant"

Step Inside the Googie Masterpiece Johnie’s Coffee Shop Thanks to Artist Gary Baseman

, Leave a Comment on Step Inside the Googie Masterpiece Johnie’s Coffee Shop Thanks to Artist Gary Baseman

Every time I would visit the Petersen Automotive Museum or the Academy Museum I would gaze longingly at Johnie’s Coffee Shop. The red, white, and blue Googie masterpiece has sat empty since 2000, and I longed to step inside. Well, I finally got that chance, thanks to artist Gary Baseman. Baseman was born in LA…

Read More…
Straight on view of the Victorian, a large, three story Victorian style building, painted a pale green with white trim, with bay windows and turrets on each side, a large square bay window above the door, and a small cupola at the top in the middle.

Risen From the Dead: The Victorian Mansion Frankenstein’ed from Bunker Hill Homes and a Catholic Poor House

, Leave a Comment on Risen From the Dead: The Victorian Mansion Frankenstein’ed from Bunker Hill Homes and a Catholic Poor House

The other day Patrick and I were driving in an area of the Valley we don’t often find ourselves in, and we stumbled upon the most bizarre Victorian monstrosity. A quick turn around and we stood beneath a towering building simply dubbed The Victorian. My brain was boggled, because while elements certainly seemed genuine from…

Read More…
Full exterior view of Idle Hour, in the center is a large barrel with smaller buildings attached at either side.

Idle Hour: Eat Inside a Giant Hidden Dog at California’s Last Barrel Restaurant

, Leave a Comment on Idle Hour: Eat Inside a Giant Hidden Dog at California’s Last Barrel Restaurant

As many of you know I’m an architecture junkie, and one of my favorite forms of architecture is programmatic, or fondly known as “California Crazy” that is to say, buildings that are constructed to look like something, which California was wildly known for. Sadly, there are very few examples left, but at Idle Hour you…

Read More…
Arched gateway to the home.

Inside Greystone Mansion: Money, Murder, and the Movies

, 2 Comments on Inside Greystone Mansion: Money, Murder, and the Movies

Looming over the luxurious city of Beverly Hills sits Greystone Mansion, a sprawling estate built by Los Angeles’ first oil tycoon family, the Dohenys. It is also home to one of Beverly Hills’ earliest scandals. Typically Greystone keeps its doors closed, with only a handful of exceptions. Thankfully my friend, Kristen, was able to secure…

Read More…
A black and white image of the back of an abandoned drive-in, portions of the screen are missing, on the left is the small ticket booth.

Abandoned Places, Neon Wonders, and More from Our Idaho Road Trip

, Leave a Comment on Abandoned Places, Neon Wonders, and More from Our Idaho Road Trip

A road trip is never complete without pulling over to some weird places, including abandoned buildings, amazing neon signs, and more. While Patrick and I have traveled to Idaho a few times, there is always something we missed the time before. So today, I bring you the collection of random places we stopped at during…

Read More…