Myself standing with the Cyclone Racer Bridge in the background, wearing a t-shirt with a female sunbather and the Cyclone Racer in the background, and red shorts.

The Rise and Fall of the Long Beach Pike

June 20, 2019, 12 Comments

Towering above shops like H&M, Forever 21, and The Gap is what appears to be a rollercoaster, yet no cars race by, and no screams of riders can be heard. Upon closer inspection, it is no rollercoaster, just bridge built to look like one. But, why? Let’s take a trip back in time, all the…

A red stone building with arches in the middle stands tall with text overlay reading "American Horror Story Filming Location: Old Orange County Courthouse"

American Horror Story’s Creepy Briarcliff Manor is Actually a Courthouse

January 23, 2019, 1 Comment

Like many, I’ve been sucked into the anthology series that is American Horror Story. If you’re unfamiliar with the series, it is a horror inspired show, where each season season has its own individual story to tell while also loosely linking the seasons together. And while the show has taken place across the United States, many…

Exploring the Historic Santa Monica Pier

July 27, 2018, 2 Comments

Nothing quite says summer like a day at the beach, especially if that beach is lucky enough to have a pier filled with a carousel, roller coaster, games and more. Around the turn-of-the-century California’s coast was dotted with what was known at the time as “pleasure piers” a wooden boardwalk along the coast that offered…

Me standing outside of the Gamble House.

The Gamble House – Pasadena’s Craftsman Masterpiece

July 23, 2018, 2 Comments

California is renowned for its Craftsman architecture. But, if I’m totally honest, I’m really not the biggest fan of the American Craftsman Movement of the late 19th and early 20th century. That isn’t to say I can’t appreciate it, as it proved to be innovative, and even influential on Mid-Century Modern, but still, I really…

Orange Empire Railway Museum

January 23, 2017, 5 Comments

Recently Patrick and I went to the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris (about an hour and a half east of Los Angeles) with a couple of friends for a day filled with not just train history, but a glimpse into the history of Los Angeles transit, as well as added bits of Disney history!…

A Return to the Autry

May 21, 2016, 8 Comments

A few years ago during a visit to California we took time to visit the Autry Museum of the American West. I was slightly crushed over the fact I didn’t blog about it, which was for a combination of reasons. First, it was very overwhelming! There is so much stuff at the Autry, and my…

Birthday at Farrell’s

April 23, 2016, 6 Comments

I told you to look out for another Gibson Girl inspired look soon! Because we went to Farrell’s with some friends to celebrate my birthday Thursday evening. Farrell’s even offers an ice cream dish called the Gibson Girl which I got as my birthday treat. I honestly believe that no matter how old you get…

Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour

September 8, 2015, 10 Comments

When I was a kid there was this wonderful, magical place that I would sometimes get to go to. No, for once I’m not talking about Disneyland. I’m talking about Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour. Founded by Bob Farrell and Ken McCarthy in 1963 in Portland, Farrell’s quickly became the go-to place for birthdays and other celebrations for…

Victorian Secrets

December 10, 2013, 8 Comments

A few weeks ago an article had been floating about the interwebs. It was an article about a woman who wears Victorian garb as many of us vintage gals rock the 40s and 50s. I was so intrigued, having an interest in the Victorian era in addition to the mid-20th century. The woman, Sarah Chrisman,…

Atomic Redhead

1900s

The Rise and Fall of the Long Beach Pike

American Horror Story’s Creepy Briarcliff Manor is Actually a Courthouse

Exploring the Historic Santa Monica Pier

The Gamble House – Pasadena’s Craftsman Masterpiece

Orange Empire Railway Museum

A Return to the Autry

Birthday at Farrell’s

Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour

Victorian Secrets