Got some great Retro Roadmap worthy tips from Jeff at Nifty Nic Nacs Venice FL (and some cool loot too!)
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No we won’t be taking the “Land Can” but if nothing else crazy happens with the weather here in PA Retro Roadhusband and I are scheduled to fly to Tampa tomorrow morning for a week long stay in Florida! After this snowstorm (20″ of snow fell on the Hacienda and we’ve got to dig it out before we leave) I’m ready to exchange the shovel for a tropical drink, big time.
I’ve got a bunch of retro Florida and vintage vacation stops planned thanks to the help of these great folks:
Tiki Kaliki, hostess of The Hukilau – happening June 10-13 at the fabulous Mai Kai in Fort Lauderdale FL
ChrisPFLorida on Twitter, also host with the most of Tiki Lounge Talk!
Rick from the wonderfully informative Florida history blog Visual Ephemera!
Crossing my fingers our flight goes without a hitch, and I can still fit into some of my warm weather clothes after all of the storm related carbo loading I’ve done in the past 24 hours.
I’ll try to post some photos from the road, but in the meantime- if you’ve got a Retro Roadmap worthy place in your state you want to feature, send the info to me and I’ll post it!
Mod Betty
Posted in Retro Road Trip, Updates | 3 Comments »
I don’t have a photo handy, but just heard the good news that the Liberty Elm – seriously one of the coolest diner scenes I’ve visited, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places!
Here’s an article from the Providence Journal (ProJo, I love it)- and I’m putting this puppy on the Retro Roadmap now- official review and photos can be filled in later!
http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/02/providences-liberty-elm-diner.html
Posted in Diner, Rhode Island retro, vintage | Tagged Diner, diners drive ins dives, Liberty Elm, National Register, Rhode Island, RI | Leave a Comment »
Sometimes you just can’t trust a route marker (like Route 1 this weekend through Providence, which got me quite turned around!) but in the case of Route 202 through Norristown PA a vintage sign photo op awaits if you choose the right one!
Continue Reading »
Posted in Pennsylvania retro, vintage, Photo Op, Vintage Signs | Tagged drugs, font, Myers, neon, Norristown, route 202, signage, storefront, vintage | Leave a Comment »
When I sent up a flare asking for Retro Roadmap-worthy places to visit in Rhode Island my pal Bill who lives in Arizona now but worked in the smallest state insisted that I eat at the Modern Diner in Pawtucket RI during my short jaunt home – and I was happy to oblige. Built in 1941, it is one of the few remaining Sterling Streamliner diners -easy to recognize by their “art deco train speeding down the track” look – and is the first diner ever to be placed on the National Historic Register.
The Modern is quite a beauty, with her cream and burgundy enameled panels and fab sign. I thank the folks at Quahog.org for clueing me into the fact that the reason the Modern is straight on one end is because in it’s original location in downtown it was snugged up against a building – I always thought it looked kinda weird!
I was up against a few obstacles during my visit to the diner in the fact that I did not realize ’til I was scrambling around in my purse that I had spent most of my cash with the Retro Roadkids the day before, and the diner is cash only. Also I was playing beat the clock as it was just about 1:30pm and they close at 2pm on a Sunday. Hence the fulfilling and affordable 2 eggs over with toast with a breakfast potato bonus, thought the diner is known for having more adventurous fare.
I asked for and was able to have a seat at the counter in the original part of the diner, and frankly did not even glance into the newly added on dining room portion. It seemed like most folks wanted to sit in the actual diner itself, with a key seat being the booth in the curved portion “at the front of the train”.
Photos of the interior of the diner would’ve revealed that the place was packed and bustling this Sunday morning, with folks streaming in-perhaps from church? and servers here there and everywhere. It was a nice scene, to know that this place is still thriving, and Bill, I thank you for the reminder of this historic diner just off 95!
Modern Diner
364 East Avenue
Pawtucket, RI 02860
(401) 726-8390
Cash only, breakfast & lunch
The Modern Diner is just off 95 in Pawtucket RI- see it on the Retro Roadmap!
Posted in Diner, Rhode Island retro, vintage | Tagged Art Deco, diner food, diners, modern, National Register, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, RI, Sterling Streamliner | 6 Comments »
Hey gang- heading up to see the fam this weekend and hoping to catch some Retro Roadmap fun along the way.
what are your fave Retro Roadmap worthy stops along the way? I’ll be on the Jersey Turnpike, then either 95 or the parkways to 91/84/ 90!
Posted in Retro Road Trip | 4 Comments »
What a whirlwind of a week it has been so far- with trips to Sellersville, PA, New York City and on Friday heading back up to Beantown to visit the Retro Roadfamily. I don’t have time at the moment to do justice to the fun we had candlepin bowling at the Wakefield Bowladrome in Wakefield MA (owned by the same family since 1957, and on the site of an older bowling alley that burned down) but wanted to share a few pictures with you, including the COOLEST RESTROOM SIGNS EVER!
Posted in Massachusetts retro, vintage, Old Time Fun, Photo Op, Vintage Signs | Tagged Bowling, candlepin, Ladies Room, Mens Room, restroom, signs, Wakefield MA | 13 Comments »
Spying McGillin’s Olde Ale House tucked away on a narrow alley just off the main streets in Center City is like catching a 3D glimpse into Philadelphia’s historic past. The only business on this teeny strip of road between massive high rise buildings and just 2 blocks from City Hall, the warm glow from their vintage looking neon sign beckoned us to step back in time on a chilly December evening.
I didn’t know what to expect from the Oldest Continually Operating Pub in Philadelphia (150 years, this year!) and was crossing my fingers that the place had retained some of its authentic charm and not succumbed to the faux historical look popular with businesses in touristy areas, or turned into a sporty frat bar.
When we saw the care that was taken with their neon sign ( only 7 years old but an exact replica of their original sign- see below about that) and the cheery holiday decorations we hoped for the best, opened the narrow swinging doors, and ventured inside.
Posted in Downtown, Historic Business, History, Pennsylvania retro, vintage, Vintage Signs | Tagged 150 years, Ale House, Bar, Historic, McGillin's, neon sign, Olde, Philadelphia, Pub | 9 Comments »
Even though the Wanamaker’s Department Store building in downtown Philadelphia PA has been taken over by Macy’s, if you look closely you can still see signs that this place used to be the grande dame of department stores in her day. Here are a few snapshots of some of the retail archeological finds I saw on our quick trip into Center City before Christmas.
(I’ve actually never seen the organ without it being obscured by the giant Christmas Tree, but here’s a shot to show you how cool and old fashioned it is (thanks to Wikipedia for the use of this image))
As a quick refresher, Wanamaker’s was the first department store in Philadelphia and one of the first department stores in the country. The current building harkens from 1910 and originally had 9 of its 12 floors designated for retail. Now only a handful of them are shopping destinations, but the building still houses the fabulous Wanamaker Organ, which gives a hint to the fabulosity that the store once had.
When you’re walking in through some of the vestibules off of the street you can still see the intricate mosaic work and the stylized JW signature emblazoned in the center.
The fluorescent lighting and my photos don’t do them justice, but the colors are just wonderful in a very art nouveau palette.
Posted in Historic Business, Pennsylvania retro, vintage, Photo Op | Tagged Architecture, Center City, Department Store, Elegant, Historic, Organ, PA, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, retail, Retail Design, Shop, Wanamaker Building, Wanamaker's | 1 Comment »
The theme of our short retro road trip to Bordentown New Jersey is signs, signs, everywhere, signs! Vintage motel signs, old neon signs, retro roadside signs, you name it, it’s probably in this post about a little section of Route 130 just south of Trenton, NJ!
These places are located in historic downtown Bordentown, NJ:
The building (which used to be a bowling alley) the facade (looks like Miami Deco) and Neon sign may not be vintage at The Record Collector, but a huge collection of vintage vinyl ( records, 45’s, LPs) awaits inside!
(Thanks to flickr4jazz on Flickr for the use of this photo = check out his great flickr set of some rarely seen interior shots of this cool music store!)
Posted in Downtown, New Jersey retro, vintage, Photo Op, Vintage Motel, Vintage Shop, Vintage Signs | Tagged Bordentown, Bowling, Downtown, Motel, neon sign, neon signs, New Jersey, NJ, retro sign, retro signs, Route 130, Vintage Motel, Vintage Sign, Vintage Signs | 4 Comments »
