Myself standing in front of one of the three screens, wearing a copper crown, blue jean jacket, pale green shirt featuring Humpty Dumpty and a castle reading "Enchanted Forest", pink corduroy pants, and holding a blue purse.

Van Buren Drive-In

April 12, 2023, Leave a Comment on Van Buren Drive-In

Earlier this year the sun set on Mission Tiki Drive-In, which had become our regular drive-in since moving to California. Thankfully we live near a few others, and recently Patrick and I went to the Van Buren Drive-in in Riverside to see Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Named after the street it is located…

Myself, leaning against the concession stand, wearing a straw hat, a black t-shirt that reads "Ian Malcom was Right" and green shorts, in the background one of the screens is visible.

One More Summer at the Mission Tiki Drive-In

July 21, 2022, Leave a Comment on One More Summer at the Mission Tiki Drive-In

Due to Oregon’s rainy weather my local drive-in growing up, the 99W, only operated seasonally, opening sometime in the late spring and staying open until autumn. So summer was really drive-in season, nights spent with friends and popcorn in front of a massive screen. Because of this, despite now living in California, where the remaining…

A gas station doing in an ornate Spanish Revival style, with a small cupola at the top. Faded letters read "Barnsdall Oil Co. and Rio Grand Oil Co." Blue and white tile frame old doorways and windows.

I Pulled Over for This! Neon Lights and More from our Bay Area Road Trip

July 19, 2022, Leave a Comment on I Pulled Over for This! Neon Lights and More from our Bay Area Road Trip

Sometimes when out and about I stumble across a neat sign or abandoned building, a place really cool to look at, but perhaps not much more than that and doesn’t need a blog post all to itself. This is always the case with road trips, so today I bring you a round up of some…

A red painted building sits behind overgrown bushes. A large sign out front reads "Gene Valla's Blue Gum Luncheon-Dinners." A neon martini glass tops the large sign.

Photo Essay: Americana Through the Eyes of a 16 Year Old

January 26, 2022, 8 Comments

Recently Patrick and I went did a massive clean out and reorganization of our garage. Part of it involved me sifting through boxes of photos. Yes, real, glossy, shot on film type of photos. Growing up in the infancy of digital photography means my early memories were captured on film, and I learned the ropes…

Me enjoying the fun atmosphere of the drive-in, wearing a purple, blue, and green floral halter top, purple shorts, and wood tiki brooch. Behind a carved wood sign reads "Snack Bar" and paintings of Hawaiian beaches hang on either side.

Mission Tiki Drive-In

July 9, 2018, Leave a Comment on Mission Tiki Drive-In

Well, it only took three and a half years, but we finally made it to a drive-in movie theatre here in southern California, the Mission Tiki Drive-In. If you remember my days in Oregon, then you probably remember our summer visits to the 99W Drive-In in Newberg, and how much I utterly adored that drive-in.…

Cover Girl

July 12, 2014, 6 Comments

A few weeks ago while at the 99W Drive-In Patrick and I were chatting with Brian, the owner and operator of the 99W. He made mention that a man from Ruralite magazine would be attending working on a piece about drive-ins. As the evening progressed, Patrick and I made our way back to our car, played…

“I Ain’t Nobody, Dork.”

June 21, 2014, 8 Comments

Last night Patrick and I went to the 99W drive-in (yet again! Seriously, it’s the best part of having a car!) to see How to Train Your Dragon 2 and, the biggest reason, American Graffiti. I was super excited that we were first in line too, so we were for sure able to snag my…

Saturday Night at the Drive In

June 8, 2014, 5 Comments

Yesterday was a friend’s birthday, and we went to the drive-in to celebrate. One of the great things about celebrating the birthday at the 99W drive-in is that you can tell those working at the snack bar and before the movie they will announce everyone’s birthday and what ensues is an orchestra of “Birthday Beeps” –…

99W goes Digital

May 17, 2014, 9 Comments

Last summer drive-ins across America faced a crisis: switch to digital or go dark. Thirty-five millimeter film met the cutting room for the final time at the end of 2013, and many drive-ins had not been able to make the costly switch to digital, but a savor showed up in the form of Honda. Honda, under…

Project Drive-In

August 15, 2013, 10 Comments

Today I want to talk about something very near and dear to my heart: Drive-ins. The drive-in really embodies all that was wonderful about mid-20th century America, and it is an icon that is disappearing, but there is something we can do! I love going to the drive-in. It’s one of the few moments that…