We recently visited Windy City and of course had to visit a couple of iconic Route 66 locations. The big thing we couldn’t miss was the sign for the beginning of Route 66 right outside the famous Art Institute of Chicago. Depending on the time of year you go, the main sign might be easy to miss — walk across the street from the museum straight out from its front doors, and it will be
You walk into a neon shop expecting nostalgia. You leave thinking about chemistry, electricity, municipal zoning codes, and 1940s craftsmanship. That’s what happened when I toured Morry’s Neon, a family business opened in 1985 by Morry and his son Glen, a business built on a neon legacy that began in 1946 when Morry first started bending glass. Established the same year America decided diners, drive-ins, and optimism were perfectly reasonable things to mass-produce, Morry’s has
As the Route 66 Centennial approaches, something interesting is happening. This isn’t just an anniversary tour or a nostalgia lap. It’s a full-scale reawakening of interest in the American road trip—one rooted in history, preservation, and the lived experience of the road itself. The centennial is acting like a spotlight, illuminating not just the highway, but the stories, architecture, roadside culture, and communities that grew up along it. And people are paying attention. Travelers want
From our retro coffee table to yours comes a great book – an awesome gift or something to pour over in our own home! Suppose you’ve ever spotted a cookie jar shaped like a hamburger or a canister set with tropical fruit motifs and thought, “I remember that design!” or “I have to have that design!”. In that case, you’ll want to get your hands on Los Angeles Potteries: A Collector’s Journey through Artistry, Craft,
I can hear Pam screaming in argument, but I really think one of the issues with incorporating TRUE 1950’s decorating styles into our lives today is that the colors were SO bright. In their defense, I don’t even think these two rooms are really that bad. The bottom one is supposed to be a little girl’s room and the top one is definitely cheerful. But I do think this amazing leap in color is one
So, for the next few days I’m going to digress from my love of 1950’s vintage homes because my two friends in the neighborhood who own 1930’s homes are both taping this week for an episode of “Trading Spaces”! What’s particularly amusing about this, is that neither house (or owner) is particularly “design challenged”….I think both of them have done a nice job of decorating….however, they thought it would be fun! I’m DYING to see
In another Mid-Century preservation attempt, the Neutra Institute for Survival through Design is attempting to save The Kronish House. Word just received pressures us to provide info for the dismantling of the house as soon as 9/20, for demolition action week of 9/26! There’s no time to be lost; if this new plan has a chance to succeed! Get those letters going! The original post from the Neutra Conservation page: July 16, 2011 – Dion
This spring, Pasadena Heritage will offer unique programs in a Getty-initiated celebration of the city’s modern architectural heritage through exhibitions and programs at cultural institutions in and around L.A. A leading historic preservation organization founded in 1977, Pasadena Heritage will host a three-part lecture and panel discussion on May 16 and an architectural tour of modern-era homes on May 19. Oral histories will also be recorded and published. Modern Architecture in L.A. is a wide-ranging
We recently visited Windy City and of course had to visit a couple of iconic Route 66 locations. The big thing we couldn’t miss was the sign for the beginning of Route 66 right outside the famous Art Institute of Chicago. Depending on the time of year you go, the main sign might be easy to miss — walk across the street from the museum straight out from its front doors, and it will be
You walk into a neon shop expecting nostalgia. You leave thinking about chemistry, electricity, municipal zoning codes, and 1940s craftsmanship. That’s what happened when I toured Morry’s Neon, a family business opened in 1985 by Morry and his son Glen, a business built on a neon legacy that began in 1946 when Morry first started bending glass. Established the same year America decided diners, drive-ins, and optimism were perfectly reasonable things to mass-produce, Morry’s has
As the Route 66 Centennial approaches, something interesting is happening. This isn’t just an anniversary tour or a nostalgia lap. It’s a full-scale reawakening of interest in the American road trip—one rooted in history, preservation, and the lived experience of the road itself. The centennial is acting like a spotlight, illuminating not just the highway, but the stories, architecture, roadside culture, and communities that grew up along it. And people are paying attention. Travelers want