Baltimore foundation wants to give away neglected Naalehu Theater — but accepting decaying gift not that easy
The Naalehu Theater, though abandoned, is a landmark in the small rural town of Naalehu. Photo courtesy / Glen Winterbottom
From West Hawaii Today: BALTIMORE — Rising above the two-lane Mamalahoa Highway on the Big Island, the red-and-yellow, Art Deco edifice of the Naalehu Theater is wrapped in orange safety fencing, its weathered paint peeling and missing pieces of its sea turtle-emblazoned roof.
The Hutchinson Sugar Plantation Co. built the 94-year-old theater in Naalehu, the southernmost village in the United States, to entertain — and help retain — its diverse population of workers. But the theater is abandoned now. The 1996 closing of Hutchison Sugar’s successor ended sugar production on the island, near its still active volcanoes.
Mark Woods: In a North Florida workshop, a bygone trade, a woodcarver and his Santas
Tod Lake starts the process of carving a Santa for a client in his studio in Palm Valley. Bob Self/Florida Times-Union
From the Florida Times-Union: It’s a long way from the North Pole, but in this North Florida workshop, you can find Tod Lake continuing a family tradition, painting signs and carving wood Santas.
The big red barn is just off North Roscoe Boulevard in Palm Valley, backing up to some of what’s left of Florida swamp. But somehow it feels like it’s in the Black Forest, particularly when you walk through the open doors and into a workshop crammed full of woodworking tools, paints and carvings of everything from signs to Santas.
The Santas are the reason for this visit to the workshop.
How does UFO restaurant and convenience store survive in King West? By serving pho with a side of bacon
Once inside UFO Restaurant, first-time customers would be surprised to find a diner-style counter with vinyl stools and tables, and menus that offer eggs Benedict, pho or both. RICK MADONIK
From The Star: From the outside, the UFO Restaurant on a side street off King West looks like a bit of a mystery.
Unusual name aside, it resembles a regular, old corner convenience store in any downtown neighbourhood. But the blue-and-white sign out front says “3 stars food groceries & restaurant” and in the window there’s a neon sign with the word “pho” glowing in red.
Inside, first-time diners would be surprised to find a diner counter with vinyl stools and tables, and menus that offer eggs Benedict, pho or both.
The most innovative adaptive reuse projects of 2019
From The Spaces: The decade just ended has seen adaptive reuse evolve into a major category within contemporary construction, with architects and developers making the most of opportunities to breathe new life into undervalued structures.
Here are nine of our favourite examples of adaptive reuse from the past 12 months that demonstrate the varied ways in which such projects can link the past and future.
Utah company repairs vintage Salt Lake Costume sign, keeping piece of neon golden age alive
Carter Williams, KSL.com
From KSL.com: SOUTH SALT LAKE — Vince Coley walks down the narrow corridor in Neon Sign Company’s shop, maneuvering around various projects his company is working to complete. It’s a peaceful Saturday morning, with the building’s rooms lit just enough to see what he’s recently been working on.
As Coley nears the main workspace in the back, he peers down at a nearly completed neon sign that stops him in his tracks.
“Look how cool this is,” Coley says, pointing at a sign built for a local cafe that features a ’50s Signyard font. “I think you’re always going to get this market for doing stuff. I’ve heard people say ‘oh yeah, neon signs are dying’ probably a dozen times since I’ve been in business. It slows down a little bit, but nostalgia brings it back. It just keeps coming back.”