Myself, wearing a black cowboy hat, black tee reading "Bounty Law" and jean shorts, leaning against a large sign reading "The Red Dog" in large red letters.

The Red Dog, the Saloon that Once Served Trigger right at the Bar

June 8, 2021, 1 Comment

When I first went to Pioneertown in 2014 with my dad, we wondered through a desolate western town where the only activity was dirt blowing across the street. Completely devoid of people, we peeked through the windows here and there, windows of legitimate businesses, though closed, and faux ones with pun based names such as…

Close-up of the neon sign atop the shack's red roof reading "Tommy's Hamburgers & Hot Dogs"

Tommy’s Burgers Turns 75

May 28, 2021, 5 Comments

Before embarking on our Koreatown tour, we stopped at Tommy’s for a bite, and it just so happened to be their 75th anniversary! This small shack might not look like much, but it’s here where chili burgers first made their mark in Southern California. Born to Greek immigrants in Oklahoma City, Tom Koulax arrived in California…

Andre's at an angle. Two over arching "dog legs" stretch across the small walk up restaurant, painted orange. A nearly all glass front has showcases the items available. A seating area is off to the left.

Andre’s Drive-In

May 21, 2021, 4 Comments

When out and about, Patrick and I often seek out the older restaurants, and it’s even better when they have a great old sign. However, I’m still a bit on the wary side of dining due to COVID, especially indoors, so I was thrilled to find Andre’s! A 1950s drive-in restaurant, complete with great architecture,…

Myself outside of the Taco Bell, holding a crunchy taco, with a fountain in the background

A Trip to Timothy Leary’s Favorite Taco Bell

May 13, 2021, 2 Comments

Alright, I guess it’s time to get it out in the open…I love Taco Bell. I know, say what you will…but sometimes a crunchy taco with a side of chips and cheese and a Mountain Dew is just what this girl needs. So, when I found out that there were only four Taco Bells operating…

Myself, standing in front of the neon mural, wearing a dark blue velvet wide brim hat with a mustard band, and a light brown suede jacket with cream fur trim, a white peasant top underneath, and dark jeans.

Inside Los Angeles’ Historic Grand Central Market

March 12, 2020, 4 Comments

In the heart of downtown Los Angeles stands a rather unassuming building, but on its first floor is a unique icon of the city, Grand Central Market. Under various buzzing neon signs, each advertising a different vendor, crowds of people make their way through what is now a first class food hall offering unique dishes…

Bob's, a large, long flat roof building, with a jutting pointed sign reading "Bob's Big Boy Broiler"

The Bob’s Big Boy that Almost Never Was

January 8, 2020, 3 Comments

As I’ve said before, and as many of you know, I love visiting places that let you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, and one of those places is Bob’s Big Boy Broiler in Downey. But this place wasn’t always a Bob’s Big Boy, and it almost never was… It is no secret that…

Myself, standing in front of one of the "cabins" which is a concrete tipi, painted white with a red zig-zag horizontally across the middle. I'm wearing a black peasant top with a tipi brooch reflective of the ones at the motel, and a full red skirt with silver and black trim.

A Night at Holbrook’s Kitschy Wigwam Village

September 18, 2019, 2 Comments

Most of our journey to Arizona took us through the northern part of the state, which is the area that Route 66 cuts through, and no trip to Arizona along Route 66 would be complete without staying at the iconic Wigwam Village. Back in 1938, Chester E. Lewis was driving through Cave City, Kentucky when…

The roadside sign for "El Trovatore" a brick structure stands on a hill above the motel, with a red and white sign jutting from the brick reading "El Trovatore Motel" An old rusted car sits out front.

The Star-Studded El Trovatore Motel

September 10, 2019, 1 Comment

Patrick and I just returned from a mini road trip to Arizona, and boy are y’all in for a slew of posts! But let’s start off with the first place we stopped for the night, the El Trovatore. El Trovatore is not only right along Route 66, but it is perched right on the edge…

Myself seated at a table inside Barney's, the booth is upholstered in different color vinyl, and the table features a collage made of magazine cut outs. Behind me sits a chopper motorcycle.

From Clark Gable to Jim Morrison, Route 66’s Barney’s Beanery Has Seen it All

August 21, 2019, 3 Comments

Hollywood has seen a great deal of changes over its lifetime, and one place that has witnessed it all is Barney’s Beanery. Once a humble California Craftsman home surrounded by poinsettia fields it has morphed to become one of the icons of Hollywood history, both of the film and music variety. Oh, and did I…

Exterior of Pig 'n Whistle, in a gothic font "Pig 'N Whistle" is above a metal awning that reads "Pig 'n Whistle" in neon.

Pigs, Pizza, and I Love Lucy: A Tale of Two Historic Hollywood Watering Holes

August 8, 2019, 6 Comments

In my previous post about the stunning Egyptian Theatre, I mentioned the neighboring restaurant of Pig ‘n Whistle. Today I’m here to dive more the story of Pig ‘n Whistle, its ties to Hollywood’s oldest Italian restaurant, Miceli’s, and the classic show I Love Lucy. In 1908 a man by the name of John Gage…

Atomic Redhead

Sleep & Eat

The Red Dog, the Saloon that Once Served Trigger right at the Bar

Tommy’s Burgers Turns 75

Andre’s Drive-In

A Trip to Timothy Leary’s Favorite Taco Bell

Inside Los Angeles’ Historic Grand Central Market

The Bob’s Big Boy that Almost Never Was

A Night at Holbrook’s Kitschy Wigwam Village

The Star-Studded El Trovatore Motel

From Clark Gable to Jim Morrison, Route 66’s Barney’s Beanery Has Seen it All

Pigs, Pizza, and I Love Lucy: A Tale of Two Historic Hollywood Watering Holes