There's an original '50s Foster's Old Fashion Freeze in Menlo Park across the street from Stanford. ^
I miss the old Barbary Coast themed Farrell's parlours.
Last edited by Oliver (2015-02-17 09:40:11)
Last edited by Oliver (2015-02-17 09:41:35)
Enjoyable (but sad). Thanks for posting Oliver.
I feel like many of us on here, and some friends of mine (not that I don't consider you all friends) really appreciate and lament the passing of these great places of times past, but I feel like the majority of people could care less, especially when it comes to the mid-century modern and Googie structures. I suppose one great aspect of the internet is that this stuff can at least be digitally archived and appreciated but this same phenomenon has overtaken every major American city. Especially around me, there's just nothing old anymore. Just the inevitable and persistent march of progress. But some of the historic preservationists seem to be catching on to the mid-20th century spots, and sometimes I'll see a developer or business that has occupied and repurposed an interesting old building, but more often than not it's just tear it down and build something new. So many great places have been supplanted by the homogeneous strip mall and condo complex. I mean, I love coffee, but how many damn coffee shops with wi-fi hotspots do we need? Or frozen yogurt shops??!!! They're everywhere in my city.
Last edited by Oliver (2015-02-18 14:58:30)
/\ /\ Jayne Mansfield ... the lobsters would jump straight out of their tanks for a chance at her whenever she walked into that place ..... I wonder if that was the worst job Kee Joon ever had ... sweet girl, sweet, charming, shy, mysterious girl .....
While spending time in SF over the holidays, I was able to make it down to Chinatown. I hadn't been down there in thirty years. I was shocked to see how Grant Ave. (Dupont Street for all of you pre-earthquake old timers) has become a schlocky tourist trap.
The Empress Of China was never really known for its cuisine. Cocktails and a view. An upscale place to hold new year's banquets. (Gung Hay Fat Choy for all of those paying attention)
Here are a couple of recent articles about a phenomenon that predates The Empress Of China.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Forbidden-City-ushered-in-golden-age-of-Chinatown-6005033.php
http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/When-a-wild-night-on-the-town-meant-Chinatown-6021223.php
If you've ever seen The Lady From Shanghai, there's a scene shot in the Buddha Lounge on Grant.
It's a shame that Buddha and Li Po have been relegated to cheap dives with the obsessive slant the city has towards retro style cocktail bars; two perfect examples of potentially classy historic landmark bars going to waste imo.
I love this thread. Thanks to Oliver, stanshall, doghouse et al, I now have a long list of places to eat / drink / stay when I visit LA in July. The only problem being, I don't think 12 nights is going to be long enough to fit it all in!
Last edited by Oliver (2015-04-03 16:06:44)
Whilst I found LA to be the strangest - and possibly the worst - city at times, I must say that Union Station is absolutely fantastic.
Last edited by Oliver (2015-04-03 16:13:34)