Myself, wearing a white embroidered peasant top with flare blue jeans, standing in front of one of the doors to the mansion.

A Night at the Historic Hayes Mansion of San Jose

June 20, 2022, 3 Comments

Patrick and I just returned from a little trip up to the Bay Area and what a whirlwind it was! I’m delighted to share many of the wonderful places we visited, and I’m going to start with the hotel we stayed at for our first night, San Jose’s Hayes Mansion. Even though we were only…

Myself, standing in front of the Canyon Country Store, wearing a cream cowboy hat, pink and yellow floral shirt, caramel colored fringe leather vest, and tan corduroys.

The Canyon Country Store, where 60s Music Legends Shopped and Rocked

April 27, 2022, 3 Comments

Separating the greater Los Angeles area from the San Fernando Valley are the Hollywood Hills, and running through them are various canyons, steep with homes built precariously into them. The most famous of these canyons is Laurel Canyon. Here the likes of Joni Mitchell, David Crosby, Jim Morrison, Chris Hillman, Gram Parsons, Frank Zappa, David…

A large concrete jukebox frames the door to the diner. In the arch reads "Peggy Sue's DIner"

Eat to the Beat at Peggy Sue’s 50s Diner

April 25, 2022, 2 Comments

I’m always game for a visit to a 50s style diner, and when we went to Calico I knew we had to end our day at the icon of Yermo, Peggy Sue’s 50s Diner. A giant jukebox welcomes hungry patrons at Peggy Sue’s and when they pass through they enter a chaotic but delightful 50s…

A Bite of Hot Dog History at the First Wienerschnitzel

March 24, 2022, 2 Comments

Driving down Pacific Coast Highway, this small, yet vibrant red and yellow building may not catch your eye, and if it does you may just write it off as one of the many Wienerschnitzel locations scattered across California, but this is in fact the first Wienerschnitzel! Unlike a similar hot dog counterpart (coughHotDogOnAStickcough), Wienerschnitzel has valued…

Myself, standing in front of a massive mural of hanging meats and wedges of cheese. Large gothic red letters reads "Alpine Market."

The Unique Old World Charm of Alpine Village

December 9, 2021, 3 Comments

Just five miles east of the sandy shores and fishing piers of Redondo Beach sits a small Germanesque village that looks as if it should be dusted with snow and the Alps peeking above it. This slice of Germany is Torrance’s Alpine Village, a small shopping center and restaurant that opened in 1968. Alpine Village…

Myself standing on the staircase, the opposite staircase visible in the background.

The Sly Bar Tucked inside the Legendary Bradbury Building

December 1, 2021, 4 Comments

To the uninitiated, the Bradbury Building in downtown Los Angeles may not look like much, but step through its doors and you enter into one of the most fantastical buildings in LA. Standing at five stories tall, the Bradbury’s interior is an atrium with two open cage elevators, and swirling wrought iron that cascades around…

Overall view of the lunch counter. The counter runs along the left side, sweeping across the back. Black and white checkered floor allows for table seating with red formica topped tables and red and chrome chairs. A red stripe runs across the wall with red neon above. Framed Coca-Cola ads line the upper, cream portion of the wall, a large circular Coca-Cola sign sits on the back wall.

Inside the Last Operating Woolworth’s Lunch Counter

September 21, 2021, 1 Comment

For some the name Woolworth’s can bring back fond memories of a tasty cheeseburger and a 5 cent Coke while seated at a lunch counter, perhaps after shopping for deals at the famed “Five & Dime.” In Bakersfield, you can still have that experience, although for a wee bit more than five and ten cents,…

Myself, wearing a yellow shirt featuring the band The Doors, standing in front of Hot Dog on a Stick holding a corndog.

A Summer Outing to the First Hot Dog on a Stick

September 8, 2021, 2 Comments

March 15 2022 Update: Sadly demolition has finally taken place of the original Hot Dog on a Stick. According to a Santa Monica Mirror article, the new space will be larger, but still have “the charm of the original building.” Stay tuned for an update when it reopens! This last weekend was Labor Day, and…

Myself, wearing a white halter top with red polka dots, and red shorts, holding a red and white In-N-Out cup, standing in front of the replica of the first In-N-Out.

A Visit to the First In-N-Out…Well Sort Of.

August 11, 2021, 2 Comments

When it comes to California history, there is certainly a lot. One aspect of California history that has become a staple of American life is fast food. Yes, one could argue that fast food started right here in Southern California, and while not typically viewed as “important” history, fast food is certainly a cultural phenomenon…

The Larry's neon sign sits at the corner of a fenced off outdoor eating area for Larry's, which features several picnic tables with red and white umbrellas near the outdoor order and pick-up windows. A large sign on the roof features a cartoon dog and reads "Larry's"

The Happy Little Neon Dachshund of Larry’s Chili Dog

July 14, 2021, 4 Comments

A good way to get me to go to nearly any restaurant is a killer neon sign, so when I spied Larry’s Chili Dog one day in Burbank I knew I had to visit, because it has absolutely one of the cutest neon sign’s I’ve ever seen! Larry’s Chili Dog has been around since 1953…

Atomic Redhead

Sleep & Eat

A Night at the Historic Hayes Mansion of San Jose

The Canyon Country Store, where 60s Music Legends Shopped and Rocked

Eat to the Beat at Peggy Sue’s 50s Diner

A Bite of Hot Dog History at the First Wienerschnitzel

The Unique Old World Charm of Alpine Village

The Sly Bar Tucked inside the Legendary Bradbury Building

Inside the Last Operating Woolworth’s Lunch Counter

A Summer Outing to the First Hot Dog on a Stick

A Visit to the First In-N-Out…Well Sort Of.

The Happy Little Neon Dachshund of Larry’s Chili Dog