Myself, wearing a green, purple and orange paisley print shirt, copper colored pants, and green shoes, sitting next to the Bob's statue, which is of a boy with swooping black hair, a white shirt reading "Big Boy" in blue letters, and red and white checkered overalls, holding a plate with a burger on it.

Burbank’s Bob’s Big Boy: 75 Years of Burgers

May 29, 2024, Leave a Comment on Burbank’s Bob’s Big Boy: 75 Years of Burgers

Too often I hear that Los Angeles and the surrounding area is a place that doesn’t care about its history, we demolish buildings left and right, and little heritage remains. I think that’s far from true. Many restaurants have lasted 100 years in the area, and one location in Burbank is well on its way…

A small home with a turret style entry, features steeped roof lines and ivy growing up the walls.

The Tiny French “Gnome” Village Hiding in the Citrus Empire

May 22, 2024, Leave a Comment on The Tiny French “Gnome” Village Hiding in the Citrus Empire

Redlands is one of the great citrus empires of California, it’s also a city that is filled with gorgeous homes. Most of the houses you’ll stumble upon are grand Victorians, Spanish Revivals, and Mid-Century Moderns, but there is one narrow street that looks like something out of France, this is Normandie Court, and it is…

Myself, standing outside the Bate's Motel, as Norman steps out of the office.

Hop Aboard a Glamor Tram for the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Studios Tour

May 15, 2024, 3 Comments

The movies and tourism go hand in hand, like peanut butter and jelly. The most movie centric tourist location in California is without a doubt Universal Studios, which this year celebrates the 60th anniversary of its famous Studio Tour. However, welcoming tourists has been part of Universal’s history for well over a hundred years. On…

Back view of myself wearing the Star Tours jacket with the attraction sign in the background.

Star Wars Nite at Disneyland

May 8, 2024, Leave a Comment on Star Wars Nite at Disneyland

Last week my friend Mel came to visit to celebrate her 40th birthday. A big Star Wars fan, her birthday fell close to one of the special Star Wars Nites at Disneyland. Some of you might recall that Patrick and I attended Sweethearts’ Nite in February, and Star Wars Nite is another one of the…

View of the neon for the Formosa, which is green and sits within white script letters on a red building. A black and white stripe awning juts out from the front.

The Formosa Cafe: Watering Hole for Mobsters and Movie Stars

May 1, 2024, Leave a Comment on The Formosa Cafe: Watering Hole for Mobsters and Movie Stars

L.A. Confidential is one of my all time favorite movies, and any time I can make it to one of the filming locations, I’m overjoyed. The Formosa Cafe is not only where parts of L.A. Confidential were filmed, but also where one of its most iconic scenes (ironically not in the book) happened. The scene…

Myself, wearing a shirt featuring the cover of Sweetheart of the Rodeo, which is an image of a cowgirl surrounded by flowers, and jeans, standing just outside the door with a view of the other Tudor cottages behind me.

Spending my Birthday the Faux English Village Gram Parsons Once Called Home

April 24, 2024, Leave a Comment on Spending my Birthday the Faux English Village Gram Parsons Once Called Home

Charlie Chaplin was, and remains, an important icon of motion picture history. His on screen antics are classic, and his contribution to the industry in a variety of ways cannot be underestimated. One way he sought to improve production at his studio, which he built in 1917, was to provide housing for employees close to…

Myself standing in front of the barn, behind me a large white sign atop the porch that reads "Hollywood Heritage Museum Lasky-DeMille Barn Est. 1913"

Farm to Fame: Tales of Glitz, Glamor & Eminent Domain at the Hollywood Heritage Museum

April 17, 2024, Leave a Comment on Farm to Fame: Tales of Glitz, Glamor & Eminent Domain at the Hollywood Heritage Museum

At the turn of the 20th century despite its bustling downtown core Los Angeles still had many agricultural elements and in 1901 Jacob Stern built a little barn on the corner of Selma and Vine, just one block south of what would become the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Over the next century the little barn…

Myself, wearing a kerchief made like a slice of boysenberry pie, a purple velvet vest over a purple handkerchief print maxi dress, and purple shoes, sitting on the steps of a small yellow building.

A Slice of Boysenberry Festival

April 11, 2024, Leave a Comment on A Slice of Boysenberry Festival

Springtime means it’s Boysenberry Festival time at Knott’s Berry Farm! The berry that made Knott’s Berry Farm famous is being celebrated by being used as the key ingredient in dozens of delicious items. Whether you like sweet or savory, you’re bound to find something you love! It’s also the perfect excuse to come up with…

Exterior view of the library, which features columns and a statue of woman with a deer, titled "Diana of Versailles" it dates to 1648 and is by Hubert Le Sueur.

Revisiting the Huntington

April 9, 2024, 1 Comment

Recently Patrick’s mother came to visit, who is an avid art lover, so we spent a day at the stunning Huntington Library. The Huntington is far more than a library, it sprawls over 200 acres with multiple art galleries, restaurants, and a diverse variety of gardens. It’s simply massive, and I would say impossible to…

Front of the Vista, a Spanish revival style building with curved details on the roof, painted yellow with white trim.

A Movie Night at the 100 Year Old Vista Theater

April 3, 2024, 3 Comments

While I grew up in the age of the multiplex, I also went to small, independent cinemas frequently. I saw Disney’s Pocahontas at Eugene’s old McDonald Theatre, which was built in 1925, and I spent many midnight screenings at the Cameo in Newberg, which opened in 1937. So I of course have a soft spot…