Myself, wearing a light taupe colored dress, with long sleeves. At the hem is a series of diamond shapes in peachy-pink, grey, and gold, all in various sizes. Near my shoulder I wear a small wooden brooch of a raccoon holding a pink flower. Atop my head a peachy-pink scarf, and short gold boots on my feet.

The Tale of Nell Donnelly: Fashion Icon Rescued by the Mob

March 29, 2023, 4 Comments

When we think about fashion labels with notorious pasts, we think about Gucci or Versace. But there is one forgotten about fashion label that an estimated one in seven women owned and its founder and designer, Nell Donnelly, was once caught up in a kidnapping that was solved by the mob, and I recently acquired…

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…

A yellow and red train is manned by a grey cat in a blue engineer's outfit, holding a sign reading "Chugging down the line to say, be my Valentine!"

Vintage Valentine’s Day Cards Vol. 2

February 8, 2023, Leave a Comment on Vintage Valentine’s Day Cards Vol. 2

Ages ago I shared some of my vintage Valentines Day card collection, which, at the time, was very small. Today, the collection has grown and I’m happy to bring you another sampling and plan to continue the tradition in the way I do my annual Christmas card post. I hope you enjoyed! And wishing you…

Close-up of a record sleeve featuring a handsome mustached man holding papers, text reads "David Niven reads the 'world's most famous love letters'" to the right is a heart shaped chocolate box, and nearby is a pair of pink birds with large blue eyes.

Hearts Galore!

January 18, 2023, 1 Comment

Over the last few years I’ve really gotten into collecting vintage Valentine’s Day cards and chocolate boxes, and I feel like I’ve reached the point where I truly decorate for Valentine’s Day. What’s so funny is that I still really don’t care much for the holiday itself, but I love the vintage ephemera that results…

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…

Gorgeous Streamline Moderne Firestone turned Brew Pub

August 31, 2022, Leave a Comment on Gorgeous Streamline Moderne Firestone turned Brew Pub

Driving down La Brea in Los Angeles you may pass by a beautiful streamline moderne Firestone station, complete with its iconic bowtie neon sign standing tall over the streetlights, but don’t expect to get your tires replaced here. Instead you’ll find beer and tacos, this is All Season Brewing Company. Built in 1937, and dubbed…

Overview of the sales floor from the balcony, high white walls feature arched details of gold on them, the arched proscenium frames a screen, two small arched balconies sit on either side of the screen.

The Surreal Experience of Shopping for a New iMac at an Old Movie Palace

August 12, 2022, 2 Comments

A couple weeks ago my beloved iMac started show signs of age. It could barely keep up with my photo editing, and I knew its days were numbered. So I set out to get a new one. Not too long ago Apple announced they were introducing new colored iMacs. My millennial heart skipped a beat.…

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 cream cowboy hat, fringe leather vest, floral shirt, and tan corduroy pants, seated inside one of the red leather booths.

The Resurrection of LA’s Fred Harvey Restaurant as Sports Bar

August 4, 2022, Leave a Comment on The Resurrection of LA’s Fred Harvey Restaurant as Sports Bar

A short distance from Olvera Street, the birthplace of Los Angeles, sits one of its most iconic buildings, Union Station. The iconic Spanish Revival building has been featured countless times in movies and television, and serves as a transportation hub for visitors and locals alike. It’s also home to Homebound Brew House which offers up…

Atomic Redhead

1930s

The Tale of Nell Donnelly: Fashion Icon Rescued by the Mob

The Olympic Legacy of Palm Springs’ Oldest Hotel

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

Vintage Valentine’s Day Cards Vol. 2

Hearts Galore!

Revisiting the Warner Bros. Studio

Gorgeous Streamline Moderne Firestone turned Brew Pub

The Surreal Experience of Shopping for a New iMac at an Old Movie Palace

Dishing Up Deli History at the Skirball Cultural Center

The Resurrection of LA’s Fred Harvey Restaurant as Sports Bar