Reel comeback: Sag Harbor Cinema, a survivor of fire and pandemic, welcomes moviegoers anew
From 6abc.com: SAG HARBOR, New York — The historic Sag Harbor Cinema, literally rising from the ashes, is once again reeling in moviegoers.
The cinema, a cherished landmark in this charming Long Island village, has witnessed the story of 20th-century pop culture. It began as a vaudeville and burlesque theater in the 1890s, then became a silent movie house before moving on to talkies.
Iconic sign back up at Watertown’s Crystal Restaurant
The iconic — and now refurbished — Crystal Restaurant sign is hung on the building’s exterior in Public Square, down Watertown. Sydney Schaefer/Watertown Daily Times
From NNY 360: WATERTOWN, NY — For the first time in two years, the neon sign on the Crystal Restaurant is back where it belongs.
The iconic sign has been gone while the exterior of the city’s oldest restaurant underwent a major facelift.
While that work on the building is nearly done, the sign finally returned Monday to the 85-87 Public Square building’s exterior.
Largest Preservation Fund in American History Invests $3M to Save Black Landmarks
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From Essence: Recently, interest has grown in celebrating and commemorating Black history. For example, Juneteenth is increasingly being recognized by state governments as a national holiday across the country, which marks the 1865 anniversary of enslaved people being informed that slavery had ended. Although progress has been made in raising awareness of Black history, many narratives have been whitewashed and reworked, thus narrowing the experiences of Black people.
The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is aiming to change this by preserving African American landmarks and quite literally saving Black history. With $50 million of funding, the Action Fund is the largest preservation effort ever undertaken to support the longevity of African American historic sites.
Love for neon signs burns in nostalgic glow
Udo Schumacher works on a section of glass tubing that will be used in the new 25th Street Station sign. Rod Aydelotte, Tribune-Herald
From The Waco Tribune-Herald: As neon fell out of favor and LED fixtures took over, neon shops closed, seasoned glass benders retired and those remaining in the field wondered how much longer the art would survive.
Then something started changing. Maybe it was a multi-decade cycle of nostalgia or some other cultural force that brought genuine neon signs back into fashion. But the beacons of hand-shaped, gas-filled glass tubes are in high demand again, and local sign shops and benders have no idea what comes next.
Odds are good that anyone who bought a neon sign in Central Texas in the last 15 years received one built with glass hand-shaped by Udo Schumacher, owner and sole bender at U.S. Neon.
New grant will help preserve a building significant to Black history in Lexington
The former site of the Catholic Cation Center at Fifth and Chestnut streets was once owned by Zirl Palmer, who was the first Black man to own a Rexall pharmacy in the United States. Silas Walker/Lexington Herald-Leader
From The Lexington Herald-Leader: A national fund for preserving significant African American historical sites will help restore a Lexington building that housed the first Rexall drug store franchise in the country owned by a Black pharmacist.
The Palmer Pharmacy building at Fifth and Chestnut streets, the former site of the Catholic Action Center’s day shelter, is the recipient of a grant from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund operated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
10 outrageous roadside attractions to check out in Alberta
World’s Largest Perogy (Village of Glendon)
From Daily Hive: Itching for a little getaway and see something unique along the way? We got you covered, rounding up 10 roadside attractions and landmarks to check out in Alberta.