Myself standing outside the Mackay Mansion, wearing a cream cowboy hat, fringe leather jacket, peach tie dye shirt, blue jeans and brown boots.

Inside the Haunted Mackay Mansion

May 30, 2023, Leave a Comment on Inside the Haunted Mackay Mansion

The Comstock Lode meant that virtually overnight Virginia City had millionaires, and some built opulent homes, including George Hearst. While small and not as grand when compared to his son’s extravagant Hearst Castle, the Virginia City home George Hearst built in 1859 is still beautiful and full of original fixtures and furnishings (including the first…

Myself standing inside a mine cart outside the museum.

The Way It Was Museum

May 25, 2023, Leave a Comment on The Way It Was Museum

For a town of less than 1,000 people, there is still much to see and do in Virginia City, but perhaps the best bang for your buck is The Way It Was Museum, which for a mere $4 (at the time of our visit) you can gaze upon a variety of artifacts focusing with the…

Myself, wearing a large straw hat, denim dress with lacing in the front, and white cowboy boots, standing in front of a large bowler shaped sign reading "The Brown Derby" in large yellow neon letters.

Behind the Curtain of the Museum of Neon Art at Their Warehouse

May 11, 2023, Leave a Comment on Behind the Curtain of the Museum of Neon Art at Their Warehouse

As some of you know, one of my favorite museums in Southern California is the Museum of Neon Art in Glendale. As amazing as the museum is, it’s quite small, and neon signs tend to be quite big, so it’s no surprise the museum has a warehouse where they house signs not currently on display,…

Myself standing in front of the gallery's title wall, which reads "Poses Figures and Glances"

J.C. Leyendecker: Illustrating American Traditions and Queer Coded Advertisements

March 8, 2023, 3 Comments

For as long as I can remember I’ve always loved illustration art. Magazine covers in the pre-photography days have always enchanted with me with their idealistic images of seasonal celebrations, illustrated advertisements of rosey cheeked women whose lives are magically made better by whatever they are holding, all of it delightfully charming, while also making…

Myself, wearing a multi-colored bolero over a black lace dress, a pink lariat necklace, and a blue glass beaded necklace, and a pair of gold, shackle like bracelets, standing in front of the Muzeo's white brick building.

Unlocking Houdini’s Secrets at the Muzeo

October 19, 2022, 2 Comments

My dad is a delightfully bizarre and interesting person, who decorates his home with not your typical items. A coffin lays in his living room, a mannequin dressed as Sherlock Holmes sits on a small loveseat, and draped over the arm is a straight jacket, some handcuffs, and hanging on the wall, a small antique…

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…

Atomic Redhead

Museum Visits

Inside the Haunted Mackay Mansion

The Way It Was Museum

Behind the Curtain of the Museum of Neon Art at Their Warehouse

J.C. Leyendecker: Illustrating American Traditions and Queer Coded Advertisements

Unlocking Houdini’s Secrets at the Muzeo

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