Restored marquee returns to downtown Eugene’s historic McDonald Theater

Vintage_View_Of_McDonald_Theater_Eugene_Oregon

From KEZI: EUGENE, Ore. – Downtown Eugene is glowing a little bit brighter now, as the McDonald Theater has officially unveiled its restored 1938 marquee and blade sign.

This restoration preserves the legacy of Eugene’s last remaining historic downtown theater, blending the vintage design with modern craftsmanship. They collaborated with local preservation experts to bring the landmark back to life, which was made possible by the City of Eugene’s Façade Improvement Loan Program. The building was purchased by Kesey Enterprises, Inc., in 2009.

Read More

I drove all 2,448 miles of Route 66. What I wish I had known before starting

Blue-Swallow-Motel-on-Route-66-in-Tucumcari-New-Mexico-Sage-Scott.jpeg

Exploring Route 66 is an iconic American adventure. Here’s what I learned to help you plan your journey. Photo credit: Sage Scott

From the Washington Times: Last September, I crossed a dream trip off my bucket list. While I’d driven many sections of Route 66 over the years, I had never tackled the entire 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica in one trip. For most Americans, carving out three weeks of vacation to make the end-to-end journey is nearly impossible, but this time, the planets aligned, and I set out with my recently retired, 70-something-year-old father for the experience of a lifetime.

Whether you’re planning to drive the full route or explore just a stretch, Route 66 offers a blend of history, adventure and nostalgia unlike any other road trip. Although it’s no longer the bustling highway it once was, The Mother Road’s stories, sights and quirks still capture the imagination. Before you hit the road, here’s what you should know about navigating America’s most iconic highway.

Read More

New Duke’s on Water owners uncover classic brewery “ghost signs”

Uncovered_Mural_Milwaukee

From OnMilwaukee: When Tim Sluga and his partners took over Duke’s On Water and the attached Varsity (formerly Scooter’s), 154-158 E. Juneau Ave. on the corner of Water Street last April, they decided the interior needed a bit of a makeover.

“We’ve done a ton of work, we’ve cleaned it, we painted, it doesn’t smell anymore,” says Sluga, who says Duke’s could potentially also get a name change as part of its makeover, though that remains to be seen. “When we took over, the walls were cluttered.”

Sluga, who spent a number of years running The Nomad on Brady Street, removed a shark with a leg in its mouth (Duke’s had a surf theme) and, he adds, “a weird amount of Bobby Portis fat heads.”

What they found behind much of the visual racket were five murals on the exposed cream city brick walls featuring famous Milwaukee breweries. The signs, which salute Blatz, Miller, Pabst (two of those) and Schlitz appear to have been painted to resemble ghost signs.

Read More

Neon-adorned signs bring new light to State Street

Alex-Billany_Neon_Sign_Salt_Lake_City

From ABC4: SALT LAKE CITY — Neon signs have long been a part of Salt Lake City – whether enticing they were you with a place to stay at a State Street motel or advertising a bowling alley just off the freeway.

The Salt Lake City Arts Council’s Public Art Program said State Street was once adorned with an array of iconic neon and light-based signs that brought color and personality to Utah’s capital city.

Now, to honor that history, eight unique neon works of art have been mounted on State Street between 600 South and 700 South in downtown Salt Lake City.

Read More

It Wasn’t Just a Diner. It Was a Hub for Altadena.

Burned_Out_Little_Red_Hen_Site_Altadena_CA

The site where the Little Red Hen Coffee Shop stood in Altadena. Philip Cheung for The New York Times

From The New York Times: This is the place where an Anita Baker ballad slips through the speakers and the smell of bacon floats in an irresistible fog.

Regulars (and who isn’t?) push through the glass door and sink into a red folding chair hankering for their usual order. The salmon croquette and the catfish are favorites, but the grits are always the star, arriving shimmering in butter and crowned with a fistful of shrimp.

This is the place where Mr. Elliott calls ahead every Thursday to request a cheese omelet, sourdough bread, hash browns and extra grits to share with his wife. Barbara Shay, the chef and owner, sometimes tosses in an extra blueberry muffin or a slice of red velvet cake.

Read More

Iowa community preserves 1948 diner, and its coveted tenderloin recipe

Photo courtesy of the City of Mason City

From RadioIowa: A small, historic diner in downtown Mason City that dates back to the 1940s is being rescued in hopes it can reopen under new ownership.

The Suzie Q Cafe has been closed since April of 2023 when a fire next-door destroyed the Kirk Apartments building. The restaurant got its water service from the Kirk and city administrator Aaron Burnett says in order to operate the diner, that service will need to be restored.

Read More