Cover of Holiday Jubilee, with text added reading "Just Finished"

Book Review: Holiday Jubilee

October 15, 2019, Leave a Comment on Book Review: Holiday Jubilee

In his latest book, Holiday Jubilee, Charles Phoenix, the Ambassador of Americana, celebrates the holidays in all of their mid-century glory, arguing that the “holidays are so retro!” And, you know what? I think he’s right! While holidays have been around for thousands of years, it was in the mid-20th century that they came into…

Myself standing in front of a quartette of black cats of wood, wearing a patchwork print dress of orange, yellow, black and white, as a large straw hat

The Anaheim Halloween Parade

October 30, 2018, 1 Comment

Last weekend Patrick and I finally made it to one of Anaheim’s oldest traditions, the Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade! Starting in 1923, the parade was started the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce as a way to bring the community together and create a more family oriented Halloween event, and has been a beloved favorite…

The building - two tall golden arches flank a slanted flat roof, and red and white tile wrap around the bottom. Walls of glass allow guests to walk up to the window and place their orders. The Speedee sign to the left.

The World’s Oldest McDonald’s

August 22, 2018, 7 Comments

Right here in Southern California, in the LA suburb of Downey (a place my father lived during part of his childhood), is the world’s oldest operating McDonald’s. It’s a unique claim to fame, and one some may pay no attention to, but, like it or not, fast food is an invention of America, and thus,…

Book Review: Addicted to Americana

February 21, 2018, 5 Comments

When people ask me “Who inspires you?” they are usually wanting to know who my style icons are. While style icons are great and all, there are some people who really, truly inspire me on a much deeper level than just clothing, and those are the people who are dedicated to historic preservation. Perhaps one…

Bob Baker Marionette Theater

July 27, 2016, 5 Comments

Just a few hours after arriving home from San Diego Comic Con, Patrick and I were off to LA to attend Charles Phoenix‘s show at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, a rare, if not slightly bizarre, gem in Los Angeles. I had heard about this theatre from Charles on a few occasions, but the show…

Anaheimland

October 14, 2015, 6 Comments

Over the weekend Patrick and I went to another one of Charles Phoenix‘s shows, and this one about our still-new-to-us home, Anaheim. Okay, well, we really live in Orange, but Anaheim is right next door, and I work in Anaheim! Phoenix’s presentation was at Anaheim High School, which is a beyond gorgeous 1930s school, built during…

Up With Downey

October 4, 2015, 4 Comments

Last night Patrick and I tracked down our folding chairs, as they had not been out since our move, and trundled up I-5 to my dad’s old stomping ground of Downey. One of the iconic suburbs of Los Angeles, Downey is lush with Googie architecture and neon as well as rich with unique American history…