Angled view of the ten gallon hat sign that is lit up with neon reading "Arby's Roast Beef Sandwich is Delicious" below is the curved roof of the restaurant.

Last of its Kind: 60s Era Arby’s to Meet the Wrecking Ball

June 12, 2024, 3 Comments

Back in 2018 I took a day to drive down Beach Boulevard from the 91 all the way to the beach, photographing various signs and buildings. During that excursion I stumbled across a vintage Arby’s. The massive ten gallon hat neon sign towered over the curved building, emulating a covered wagon. I stepped inside and…

Farewell to Don the Beachcomber

April 15, 2018, 4 Comments

Lost Places Update: As the titled suggests, Huntington Beach’s Don the Beachcomber has closed, becoming yet another Lost Place in Southern California. Today we morn the loss of a tiki palace, or, in a manner of speaking, two. Today Don the Beachcomber in Huntington Beach (or Surfside, or Sunset Beach, depending on who you talk…

Americana Along Beach Boulevard

April 9, 2018, 4 Comments

Photographing old signs has long been one of my favorite passions. And California has a plethora of them. Just the other day I decided to drive down Beach Boulevard (also known as California Route 39) through Buena Park, Anaheim, Stanton, Westminster, and Huntington Beach to take pictures of the fair amount of signs this short…

Where the Palm Trees Sway

January 24, 2015, 9 Comments

Today Patrick and I decided to go to the International Tiki Marketplace, as I felt I was sorely lacking in tiki-riffic hair flowers, and I remembered there being several women selling some fabulous hair flowers there when we went last month. It was unbelievably windy when we snapped these pictures! I’m still getting used to…

Mele Kalikimaka!

December 6, 2014, 6 Comments

Today Patrick and I went to Don the Beachcomber in Huntington Beach for the International Tiki Marketplace. While my interest in tiki is not as deep as some, my brother is really into tiki, and I felt it would be a great opportunity to find him a unique Christmas present. There were loads of swell…