Warner Brothers Studio Tour

September 28, 2015, 1 Comment

Warner Brothers Studio is the powerhouse behind some of the greatest classic films of all time. Casablanca being at the top. But they also produced James Dean’s three major motion pictures, East of Eden, Rebel without a Cause, and Giant, along with some wonderful television series. And today the Warner Brothers continues to make great and…

Universal Studios

September 10, 2015, 5 Comments

After living in California for nearly a year (seriously, where does the time go, but I’ll reflect on that in a later post), Patrick and I finally made it to Universal Studios yesterday. I hadn’t been since I believe 1997, and Patrick had never been. With the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opening in spring…

Sleep in a Tipi & Visit the Site of the First McDonald’s along Route 66

June 11, 2015, 7 Comments

During the week Patrick decided to surprise me with a mini, one night getaway at the Wigwam Motel in Rialto on Route 66! An icon of the Mother Road, the Wigwam Motel is a handful of concrete tipi structures (not actual wigwams, which are domelike in shape) that are quaint, and of course, small. There…

Paramount Ranch

April 2, 2015, 13 Comments

Lost Places Update: Paramount Ranch been recategorized as a Lost Place. On Friday, November 9th, 2018, Paramount Ranch fell victim to the Woolsey Fire that tore through the Malibu, Thousand Oaks and Agora Hills areas. Paramount Ranch was reduced to cinders with only the train depot from Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman and church built for…

That Thing You Do in Orange

February 26, 2015, 9 Comments

Since our decision to move, we have been asked a lot of questions. One was “Why Orange?” Often followed by “Why not LA?” There are a lot of answers to that question, some practical, and others rather superficial. First off, I adore Orange. During my many visits to California over the years we would often…

Calico Ghost Town

January 6, 2015, 6 Comments

This weekend’s trip to Vegas was my first visit since the late 90s, and my first time driving there. Not to mention it was Patrick’s first ever visit to America’s playground. On our way we made some stops, including the ghost town of Calico. Founded in 1881, Calico’s mines produced millions in silver, before silver dropped in price, and it…

Pioneertown: The Town Built by Celluloid Cowboys

December 18, 2014, 7 Comments

During our stay at Hicksville we visited a place that could only exist in California, Pioneertown. I had visited in Pioneertown back in March (though did not blog about it) with my dad, who grew up with heavy doses of the western TV shows in the 50s, which is all how Pioneertown began. Western stars…

Treasure Island

August 26, 2014, 4 Comments

After visiting Mission San Juan Bautista, we took a very quick detour to visit another filming location, the Treasure Island Administration Building, located on Treasure Island between San Francisco’s downtown and Oakland. The building is one of the most accessible filming locations from one of my favorite films, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. While Petra…

Mission San Juan Bautista

August 24, 2014, 12 Comments

UPDATE: It is important to remember that while California Missions have been hailed as places of peace, they also have deep and complicated histories, including slavery, violence, and forced religious conversion. After securing our apartment and spending time in Disneyland, we headed back north, stopping at Mission San Juan Bautista. I had visited this mission back…

Observing James Dean

November 7, 2012, 13 Comments

Here I am! Coming to you from California! We made it in to see family today, however earlier in the day we visited the Griffith Observatory. Not only is it a beautiful art deco building, but it is also the site of the famous fight scene and ultimate climax of one of my favorite films,…