Myself standing outside of the bright yellow and red Munch Box building, wearing a white shirt with a clown marionette on it and text reading "From Hollywood Bob Baker's Marionettes" and red shorts with yellow pockets.

The Munch Box: A 1950s Chatsworth Icon

July 19, 2023, Leave a Comment on The Munch Box: A 1950s Chatsworth Icon

Just past the railroad tracks of Chatsworth sits a small bright yellow burger stand, The Munch Box. This tiny walk-up has been serving Chatsworth locals and others since 1956. Today the ketchup and mustard colored building continues to be family owned and operated. When The Munch Box opened in 1956 it made root beer on…

Recreating Gram's GP cover, myself seated in a chair, wearing a jean jacket, black tee, striped pants, and black boots. Behind are arched alcoves with gold fabric hanging in them.

Celebrating my Birthday at the Infamous Chateau Marmont

April 26, 2023, 8 Comments

For my birthday this year Patrick and I spent the weekend at the famed Chateau Marmont. While the Chateau has become a well known for a variety of reasons, for me it’s important because it’s one more place linked to my favorite musician, Gram Parsons. Built to resemble a French chateau, Chateau Marmont looms alluring…

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…

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…

Myself, wearing a light blue shirt with rainbow script reading "93/KHJ Boss 30" and red and yellow corduroy shorts, standing in front of the massive hot dog shaped building.

Eating a Little Hot Dog at a Giant Hot Dog! The Return of Tail o’ the Pup

July 26, 2022, 1 Comment

It has graced book covers, it has been seen featured on the big and small screen, it has been visited by celebrities like Betty White, Sigourney Weaver, and the band Devo, just to name a few. What is it? It’s a 17 foot long hot dog stand, dubbed Tail o’ the Pup, one of the…

Myself, standing in front of the Canyon Country Store, wearing a cream cowboy hat, pink and yellow floral shirt, caramel colored fringe leather vest, and tan corduroys.

The Canyon Country Store, where 60s Music Legends Shopped and Rocked

April 27, 2022, 4 Comments

Separating the greater Los Angeles area from the San Fernando Valley are the Hollywood Hills, and running through them are various canyons, steep with homes built precariously into them. The most famous of these canyons is Laurel Canyon. Here the likes of Joni Mitchell, David Crosby, Jim Morrison, Chris Hillman, Gram Parsons, Frank Zappa, David…

A Bite of Hot Dog History at the First Wienerschnitzel

March 24, 2022, 2 Comments

Driving down Pacific Coast Highway, this small, yet vibrant red and yellow building may not catch your eye, and if it does you may just write it off as one of the many Wienerschnitzel locations scattered across California, but this is in fact the first Wienerschnitzel! Unlike a similar hot dog counterpart (coughHotDogOnAStickcough), Wienerschnitzel has valued…

Myself, standing in front of a massive mural of hanging meats and wedges of cheese. Large gothic red letters reads "Alpine Market."

The Unique Old World Charm of Alpine Village

December 9, 2021, 3 Comments

Just five miles east of the sandy shores and fishing piers of Redondo Beach sits a small Germanesque village that looks as if it should be dusted with snow and the Alps peeking above it. This slice of Germany is Torrance’s Alpine Village, a small shopping center and restaurant that opened in 1968. Alpine Village…

Myself, wearing a yellow shirt featuring the band The Doors, standing in front of Hot Dog on a Stick holding a corndog.

A Summer Outing to the First Hot Dog on a Stick

September 8, 2021, 2 Comments

March 15 2022 Update: Sadly demolition has finally taken place of the original Hot Dog on a Stick. According to a Santa Monica Mirror article, the new space will be larger, but still have “the charm of the original building.” Stay tuned for an update when it reopens! This last weekend was Labor Day, and…

Myself, standing in front of the neon mural, wearing a dark blue velvet wide brim hat with a mustard band, and a light brown suede jacket with cream fur trim, a white peasant top underneath, and dark jeans.

Inside Los Angeles’ Historic Grand Central Market

March 12, 2020, 4 Comments

In the heart of downtown Los Angeles stands a rather unassuming building, but on its first floor is a unique icon of the city, Grand Central Market. Under various buzzing neon signs, each advertising a different vendor, crowds of people make their way through what is now a first class food hall offering unique dishes…

Atomic Redhead

historic places to eat

The Munch Box: A 1950s Chatsworth Icon

Celebrating my Birthday at the Infamous Chateau Marmont

Gorgeous Streamline Moderne Firestone turned Brew Pub

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

Eating a Little Hot Dog at a Giant Hot Dog! The Return of Tail o’ the Pup

The Canyon Country Store, where 60s Music Legends Shopped and Rocked

A Bite of Hot Dog History at the First Wienerschnitzel

The Unique Old World Charm of Alpine Village

A Summer Outing to the First Hot Dog on a Stick

Inside Los Angeles’ Historic Grand Central Market