The large rooftop neon sign for the "Roosevelt Hotel" which spells out its name in red neon letters.

The Neon Gods We Made – Revisiting the Los Angeles Neon Cruise

September 21, 2022, 3 Comments

Unless you’re super new to the blog, then you know I adore neon. There is something about the almost alchemy like art that is neon, and I love seeing it. One of the best ways to see the neon of Los Angeles in the wild is by taking the Neon Cruise, offered by the Museum…

Myself standing outside of the museum next to a pair of large golden arches, wearing a Bill Elliot racing tee, and brown and yellow shorts.

The Delightfully Bizarre Unofficial McDonald’s Museum

September 7, 2022, 2 Comments

Before McDonald’s was the global icon it is today, it was a humble barbecue joint in San Bernardino run by two brothers from New Hampshire. While their first location is no longer standing, it lives on at the First Original McDonald’s Museum, also known as the Unofficial McDonald’s Museum. Here no item is too small,…

Myself standing in front of the banner advertising the Jewish Deli exhibit.

Dishing Up Deli History at the Skirball Cultural Center

August 8, 2022, Leave a Comment on Dishing Up Deli History at the Skirball Cultural Center

Being from the west coast and growing up in the 90s, the idea of the Jewish deli wasn’t a big thing around me. It wasn’t until I started watching and paying attention to television shows and films set in New York that I really began to understand this cultural phenomenon. With the rise of foodie…

Myself, wearing a tan cowboy hat, floral print western wear shirt with yellow tie with horses on it, and black jeans, leaning against "Kings & Queens" machine which features saloon girls playing poker with an outlaw figure.

Playing Through Pinball History at the Pacific Pinball Museum

July 7, 2022, 2 Comments

There is something enchanting about pinball. A spring launches a ball into a whirlwind of bumpers and obstacles, bouncing and chiming its way across a colorful board. I love the art and design of pinball machines, new or old. It’s always especially interesting when a pinball machine is based on a film or TV show,…

Myself seated on the "Throne of Love" which is painted red and has gold designs around the edge and has various indicator lights reading options such as "Wild Thing, Adorable, Hot Stuff, Sizzling Hot, Hotsy Totsy, Lovable, Passionate, A Sweet Hart, Bombshell"

Revisiting the Coin-Op Delights of Musée Mécanique

July 5, 2022, 1 Comment

Fisherman’s Wharf is an icon of San Francisco, with both the hustle and bustle of the still active fishing community along side tourists who run in and out of the various restaurants, shops, and museums. Nestled next to the iconic Grotto restaurant is my favorite place in all of San Fransisco, Musée Mécanique, an astounding…

Myself standing in front of a slate gray sign reading "Schulz" wearing a jean jacket, a blue shirt featuring Woodstock on the beach, and tan corduroys.

Happiness Is…Visiting the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Warm Puppy Cafe

June 22, 2022, 4 Comments

There is something so incredibly charming about the comics page of the newspaper. Here, in the middle of politics, tragedy, and change, are rows and rows of little boxes, each telling their very own story. Growing up I loved turning to this page and following the lives of the characters in Stone Soup, Luann, Zits,…

Overall view of the Gran Salon with its rose marble columns and collection of cars.

The Mechanized Wonder of the Nethercutt Collection

April 14, 2022, 2 Comments

Earlier I shared the impressive Nethercutt Museum. While the museum is amazing, and free, visitors have the option to extend their visit and tour the Nethercutt Collection, a paid ($10 at the time of our visit) tour showcasing even more cars, unique mechanical musical instruments, and more. Visitors enter the Collection via the basement, known…

The Incredible Automotive Museum built by a Cosmetics Empire

April 12, 2022, 2 Comments

Sometimes I go somewhere and I am just so knocked on my feet I’m not even sure where to begin to share it with you. This is the case for the Nethercutt Museum and Collection. In fact, this place is so massive it’s actually receiving two blog posts! The Nethercutt is probably best known as…

Myself standing in front of a large stamp mill.

Remnants of the Mojave Desert at Route 66’s Goffs Schoolhouse Museum

March 17, 2022, 3 Comments

As mentioned in my Needles post, we were lucky enough to make it to another museum along Route 66 before the sun went down, the Goffs Schoolhouse Museum. While the building started out as a schoolhouse, today it showcases the history of Goffs and the Mojave Desert, both inside the schoolhouse itself as well as…

Myself standing in front of massive mural featuring a train, bridge, broken down car, and Spike, the cartoon beagle brother to Snoopy.

A Visit to Needles, Home to Spike and the Remains of a Grand Train Depot

March 15, 2022, 3 Comments

Before Interstate 40 arrived through the southwest, there was Route 66, and before that the railroad. And if you traveled any of them to California, Needles was that first city to welcome you to the Golden State. The connection to Route 66 makes Needles proud of its history, but there is much more, much of…

Atomic Redhead

Museum Visits

The Neon Gods We Made – Revisiting the Los Angeles Neon Cruise

The Delightfully Bizarre Unofficial McDonald’s Museum

Dishing Up Deli History at the Skirball Cultural Center

Playing Through Pinball History at the Pacific Pinball Museum

Revisiting the Coin-Op Delights of Musée Mécanique

Happiness Is…Visiting the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Warm Puppy Cafe

The Mechanized Wonder of the Nethercutt Collection

The Incredible Automotive Museum built by a Cosmetics Empire

Remnants of the Mojave Desert at Route 66’s Goffs Schoolhouse Museum

A Visit to Needles, Home to Spike and the Remains of a Grand Train Depot