Saving New York’s Midcentury Signs
Mr. Barnett spent nearly four years trying to save the Queen sign. Karsten Moran for The New York Times
From The New York Times: When the red-sauce joint Queen, in Brooklyn Heights, closed in 2020, David Barnett left a note on the roll gate with his contact information and an inquiry. Did they have plans for the sign? Situated just a few blocks from the courthouse, the Italian restaurant was rumored to be a meeting place for cops and mob bosses. And its glowing, red neon sign, with a crown illustration in the Q, was a neighborhood landmark.
Eventually, almost three years later, Mr. Barnett, who is the founder of the New York Sign Museum, got a call. It was the owner of the “Queen” sign, letting him know he received his note and was ready to chat.
Thought they were gone? Ernest Tubb Record Shop unveils neon sign ahead of reopening
David Hampton rides the bucket truck lift while steading the new neon sign for the Ernest Tubb Record Store in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Denny Simmons / The Tennessean
Hotel Pontotoc Re-Opening in Mid August
The 10-room boutique hotel also houses The Dame bar/restaurant. (Credit: Michael Donahue)
From Memphis Flyer: A piece of Memphis history will come alive when the legendary Hotel Pontotoc opens to the public in mid-August.
The circa 1906 building at 69 East Pontotoc Avenue began life as a small hotel before becoming a bordello, then turning back into a hotel, before it eventually became a residence/recording studio.
It’s now back to its roots as a boutique hotel. Owners Joseph Lewis and Tony Kuhn spent the past three years renovating the building, which many Memphians probably remember as a mysterious heavily vine-covered building with the old neon sign reading “Hotel Pontotoc” on the front.
Opera Philadelphia will take over Macy’s this fall
Kathryn Ott Lovell, president and CEO of Philadelphia Visitor Center, announces a public fundraising campaign that will bring the Christmas light show and Dickens Village back to the Wanamaker Building this year. (Emma Lee/WHYY)
From WHYY: The Wanamaker Organ at the former Macy’s store in Philadelphia will roar once again.
Two initiatives were announced Friday that will re-activate the now dormant retail space that once was home to a sprawling Macy’s department store. The annual Christmas light show and Dickens Village attractions will be revived during the holiday season, and Opera Philadelphia will program a series of events inside the empty store from September through December called Pipe Up!
Kathryn Ott Lovell, CEO of the Philadelphia Visitor Center, in partnership with the owner of the Wanamaker Building TF Cornerstone, has coordinated a fundraising campaign to raise $350,000 to bring back the holiday attractions inside the former Macy’s that have been beloved by Philadelphians and visitors for generations.
15 Classic Restaurants Along Route 66 That Are Worth The Stop
teddrewes_frozencustard/instagram
From Tasting Table: Route 66 is America’s most iconic road trip, and we all know the best part of a road trip is the food that you enjoy along the way. As we gear up to celebrate the centennial of Route 66 in 2026, we are rounding up some of the most classic restaurants on the Mother Road.
Route 66 begins in Chicago, Illinois, and traverses the Midwest and Western United States, ending in sunny Santa Monica, California, with plenty of delicious stops along the way. Along the historic highway, you’ll find American classics like burgers and milkshakes as well as regional dishes like toasted lasagna and Hopi Piki bread. This list, based on restaurant reviews, research, and my experience driving parts of the route, is your guide to where to eat along the legendary Route 66. Whether you’re a seasoned road-tripper or you’re traveling Route 66 for the first time, these restaurants are worth the drive.
Port Colborne’s iconic Dairy Queen sign shines again after decades in the dark
Chris de Laat, owner of Chris de Laat Photography Gallery at 234 West St. in Port Colborne, captured the first relighting of the Dairy Queen sign. Chris de Laat
From the Port Colborne Leader: A beloved piece of Main Street history returned to the Port Colborne skyline this week as the Dairy Queen was reinstalled and lit up for the first time in more than 40 years.
The neon sign, which sat dark for decades , was lifted back onto the roof of the long-standing ice cream bar Wednesday following months of effort by owner Rick Wilsher, local officials and members of the community.
“It hasn’t been repaired or lit in over 40 years,” Wilsher said. “Bylaws prevented that from happening.”