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,…

Recreating Gram's GP cover, myself seated in a chair, wearing a jean jacket, black tee, striped pants, and black boots. Behind are arched alcoves with gold fabric hanging in them.

Celebrating my Birthday at the Infamous Chateau Marmont

April 26, 2023, 8 Comments

For my birthday this year Patrick and I spent the weekend at the famed Chateau Marmont. While the Chateau has become a well known for a variety of reasons, for me it’s important because it’s one more place linked to my favorite musician, Gram Parsons. Built to resemble a French chateau, Chateau Marmont looms alluring…

Myself standing in front of one of the three screens, wearing a copper crown, blue jean jacket, pale green shirt featuring Humpty Dumpty and a castle reading "Enchanted Forest", pink corduroy pants, and holding a blue purse.

Van Buren Drive-In

April 12, 2023, Leave a Comment on Van Buren Drive-In

Earlier this year the sun set on Mission Tiki Drive-In, which had become our regular drive-in since moving to California. Thankfully we live near a few others, and recently Patrick and I went to the Van Buren Drive-in in Riverside to see Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Named after the street it is located…

Myself, wearing a light brown cowboy hat, pink and yellow floral top, squash blossom necklace with green stones, blue jeans, carrying suitcases up to the green trim French doors.

The Olympic Legacy of Palm Springs’ Oldest Hotel

March 15, 2023, 1 Comment

Resting in the shadows of the San Jacinto Mountains sits the eclectic complex known as Casa Cody, said to be Palm Springs’ oldest and longest continually operating hotel. This unique hotel has an interesting history, but perhaps its gold medal winning room is its vintage Olympic Village cottage. Unless you are one of the greatest…

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…

Small, single story, boarded up adobe buildings sit just past a sign reading "Casablanca Inn"

The Remnants, Remains, and Random Snapshots of 2022

February 1, 2023, 1 Comment

Sometimes when Patrick and I go out we find ourselves pulling over when we spy a vintage sign, or a unique or abandoned building. Often these places never have enough meat to them for their very own post (and more often than not, the photos get forgotten about as a result), or they get relegated…

Myself, wearing a black cowboy hat, black Mexican Tourist jacket with green design, white peasant top, blue jeans, standing in front of the mission.

Retracing Zorro’s Escapades at Mission San Luis Rey

January 25, 2023, 2 Comments

Before we get going, I want to say that it is important to remember that the California missions have complicated histories. For some, they were and remain a place of peace, with memories of weddings and other life events, however, they also have a history of violence, slavery, and forced religious conversion, which aided in the…

Myself standing in front of the gold wings from Wonder Woman '84.

Revisiting the Warner Bros. Studio

January 11, 2023, 2 Comments

This year is a big year for the movie industry with lots of anniversaries, including both Disney and Warner Bros. Studios turning 100. While Disney’s icons are of the less tangible, animated variety, Warner Bros. offers incredible studio tours that allows guests to step inside their most beloved films and television series. Way back in…

Myself, wearing a brown hat, blue jean jacket, tee featuring a desert landscape, tan corduroy pants, and dark brown boots, standing in front of the Copper Room.

Flying High at the Copper Room

December 8, 2022, 2 Comments

Just a few blocks off of Highway 62, (the highway that takes you to Joshua Tree National Park) is the Yucca Valley Airport, a small, hobbyist style airport catering to those in the high desert. Attached is the quaint, but delightful Copper Room, which was once frequented by one of my favorite musicians, Gram Parsons.…

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…

Atomic Redhead

Places to Explore

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

Celebrating my Birthday at the Infamous Chateau Marmont

Van Buren Drive-In

The Olympic Legacy of Palm Springs’ Oldest Hotel

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

The Remnants, Remains, and Random Snapshots of 2022

Retracing Zorro’s Escapades at Mission San Luis Rey

Revisiting the Warner Bros. Studio

Flying High at the Copper Room

Unlocking Houdini’s Secrets at the Muzeo