The Getty Villa, Eames House, Hollywood Sign, and More: Which Buildings Have Been Impacted by Palisades Fires, and Which Are Safe?
Much of Palisades Village was destroyed. Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images
From Architectural Digest: The iconic Eames House, Getty Villa, and other Los Angeles landmarks are at risk of destruction following a series of fires that have ravaged Southern California since Tuesday. As of publication time, 10 confirmedcasualties have been reported and evacuation orders were put in place for nearly 300,000 residents. California governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency and warned that the blaze could continue for days. “By no stretch of the imagination are we out of the woods,” he said.
The Palisades fire started around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. A series of other fires including the Eaton Fire and Hurst Fire broke out over Wednesday and Thursday, impacting Altadena, Hollywood Hills, Acton, and other neighborhoods.
George’s Coney Island in Worcester to restore iconic hot dog sign
From NBC Boston: A legendary hot dog sign in Worcester, Massachusetts, is getting a makeover.
Seven years after celebrating its centennial, George’s Coney Island is restoring its neon sign depicting a hand grasping a hot dog.
Coney Island first opened in 1918 and has been owned by the same family for four generations. In a press release Friday announcing the restoration project, it noted that immigrant S.C. Romanoff designed the original sign in 1940.
An Iconic Piece Of Colorado Restaurant History Is For Sale
From K99: An iconic Colorado restaurant formerly known for its mouthwatering buckets of chicken and beer now sits empty, awaiting life to return inside. The uniquely shaped building at 2817 North Nevada Avenue once housed Johnny’s Navajo Hogan but was recently listed on the market for $1.4 million.
Established in 1935, the freestanding, polygonal property with a massive neon sign is representative of roadside architecture that was common in that era. Soon after it was constructed, the building became a local landmark for residents of Colorado Springs.
Appeals court blocks Pima College from razing 3 historic motels
Pascal Albright / Arizona Daily Star
From Tucson.com: An appeals court has temporarily stopped Pima Community College from razing three historic Tucson motels that need expensive renovations, in a ruling Monday that gives preservationists time to appeal a lower court’s decision in PCC’s favor.
The college has until Jan. 15 to respond to the preservationists’ petition, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled.
A movie theater clings to life in California’s ‘Gateway to the Redwoods’
The Noyo Theater’s neon is a mainstay of Willits’ evening ambiance. Photo taken in December 2024. Matt LaFever/SFGATE
From SFGATE: Nestled in the heart of Mendocino County, the small town of Willits is known as the “Gateway to the Redwoods.” With a population of about 5,000, it’s a community that embraces rural charm — quiet storefronts, limited nightlife and an economy attempting to recover from the decline of the logging and cannabis industries. Here, time seems to move a little slower, preserving a piece of Northern California’s past.
On Commercial Street, the Noyo Theater stands as a testament to that past. This beloved art deco movie house has been providing cinematic escapes since it opened in 1940. Over nearly 85 years, it has survived an arson attack, the rise of multiplex theaters that wiped out many historic venues, and the ravaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout it all, the theater has remained a cornerstone of Willits’ cultural life.
Macy’s to close Center City store in historic Wanamaker building in March
The Wanamaker Grand Court organ inside the Center City Macy’s store is on the Philadelphia Historical Commission’s list of historic objects. The Macy’s store that houses the organ is slated to close in March. JON TULEYA/PHILLYVOICE
From the Philly Voice: The three-story Macy’s in Center City’s Wanamaker building is among 66 department stores the company plans to close in the spring, leaving a major vacancy on the horizon in Philadelphia’s retail landscape. The struggling chain revealed the list of pending closures Thursday after months of speculation about its plans to slash locations nationwide.
The 12-story Wanamaker building, a National Historic Landmark built in 1911 at the corner of 13th and Market streets, served as the flagship of the original Wanamaker Department Store that became a trailblazer of the retail format in the 20th century. Macy’s moved into the 400,000-square-foot space in 2006, maintaining it as an anchor for commerce in Center City.