Love in This Tub
Margaret and Corey Bienert purchased two heart-shaped tubs, one from Pocono Palace and another on Facebook Marketplace. Margaret Bienert
From The New York Times: The sight was anything but romantic.
Lined up side by side, more than a dozen heart-shaped tubs littered the parking lot of Pocono Palace Resort, one of the last remaining honeymoon getaways in the Pocono Mountains of Eastern Pennsylvania. Each tub screamed “pick me,” as if they were part of a rose ceremony on “The Bachelor.”
“They’d all been torn out of the rooms, and they were just sitting outside,” said Savannah Rose, 39, who learned that the tubs were for sale when she saw a Facebook post last summer. “A lot were scuffed or chipped from use and removal.”
The Evolution and Legacy of Roadside Architecture and Neon Signage
From the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions: From the 1920s to the 1960s, the rise of the automobile transformed the American landscape, giving birth to roadside architecture and neon signage designed to capture the attention of motorists. Gas stations, motels, and restaurants took on distinctive, eye-catching forms, including the futuristic Googie style, while glowing neon signs became beacons of hospitality and modernity. This webinar will delve into the development of roadside architecture and neon signage as well as the challenges they face today—from demolition for new commercial development to the decline of skilled neon crafts people and the shift to LED technology.
One of America’s favorite diners is closing dozens more restaurants in 2025
Denny’s is closing around 30 more restaurants in 2025 than was previously announced. Shutterstock / mike ledray
From the Daily Mail: Denny’s is closing around 30 more restaurants in 2025 than was previously announced.
The struggling diner chain said last year that it would shutter 150 locations in a bid to counteract poor sales.
In its latest earnings release, the company said it closed 88 locations in 2024, and was planning to shut between 70 and 90 restaurants across the US this year – bringing up the total number of closures closer to 180.
Residents anticipate proposed 110-key hotel at site of Broad Street Diner
The Broad Street Diner in South Philadelphia (Google Maps)
From WHYY: Residents are awaiting more information about a hotel slated for the site of a classic diner in South Philadelphia — but as of now, some are uncertain it’s the ideal proposal for the neighborhood.
The latest plans from the owners of the Broad Street Diner, located at 1135-43 South Broad St., is to turn the property into a 110-key hotel operated by Hyatt Studios, a new, extended-stay extension of the Hyatt brand. The hotel will rise to five stories and require the demolition of the diner and a neighboring, six-unit apartment building.
South Bend’s purchase of historic State Theater approved
From WNDU: SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Today brought a twofer of economic development possibilities for the 200 block of S. Michigan Street in downtown South Bend.
A couple of long vacant properties are poised for possible comebacks, including the historic State Theater.
The last serious attempt to save the State Theater came in early 2013 when grand reopening ceremonies were held.
Fries With Your McBaguette? For Some Travelers, McDonald’s Is a Destination
McDonald’s opened its first location in China in the southern city of Shenzhen in 1990. Gary He/McAtlas
From The New York Times: When in Morocco, one might visit the El Badi Palace, walk the grounds of the Koutoubia Mosque or enjoy a meal of dates and chebakia at … McDonald’s?
For some, dining at McDonald’s has become part of the fun of traveling abroad. With distinctive locations — a “ski-through” restaurant in Sweden, a decommissioned Douglas DC-3 aircraft in New Zealand — and vastly different menus, the chain has adapted to a host of cultures, drawing in locals and tourists alike.
Across TikTok, YouTube and Reddit, travelers have marveled at the options: poutine in Canada, jamón Ibérico sandwiches in Spain, fried chicken in Malaysia, macarons in France and McSpaghetti in the Philippines, to name a few.