Where New York’s Signs and Marquees Go When They Die
David Barnett. Illustration by João Fazenda
From The New Yorker: These days, many New York storefronts are designed by committee. The heads of corporate branding cook up a brief, a design firm answers with a litany of slides, and, after iterations, interventions, and internal quarrels, the sign arrives in the physical plane, with glossy acrylic letterforms and antiseptic light. But New York used to be an exciting aesthetic hodgepodge: blinking marquees and boldly painted letters, and no mystical branding concepts, just facts—liquor, pork, shoes. David Barnett, the founder of the New York Sign Museum, said the other day that such signs represented “a conversation between two people, a shop owner and a sign-maker.”
Peppi’s diner building set for demolition in Point Breeze
Peppi’s in Point Breeze shown in June. Megan Swift | Triblive
Owner Lou Bosser said an offer was made for the property that was “too good to be true.” The Strip District and North Side shops remain open.
“(The) offer had nothing to do with the business,” he said of the Penn Avenue property. “The business was very, very good.”
A local investor bought the property and hired Keystone Real Estate to rent the new building that will be constructed, according to David Glickman, president of Keystone Real Estate.
Penn Queen Diner Pennsauken Demo Starts. Coming, Tim Hortons and Taco Bell
Penn Queen Diner Pennsauken Demolition Starts July 2024
From 42Freeway: The Penn Queen Diner in Pennsauken, NJ, is currently being demolished to make room for a new retail development which will feature a Taco Bell restaurant, a Tim Hortons coffee shop, and a third unit which has not been leased yet.
The former diner property sits along Route 130, on a wedge shaped property formed with Westfield Ave. The property adjacent to the Diner building is a Wendy’s, which will be unaffected by this project.
Bon Voyage, Neptune Diner
Bon Voyage Neptune Diner. Opened in the mid-20th century, Neptune will close its doors for good this upcoming Sunday, July 28th at 11:30pm. Photos Jill Parshley-Cardillo
From the Queens Gazette: Early one brisk morning, in the autumn of 1980, my father took me for a short jog on the Triborough Bridge’s path overlooking the East River. From the center, we gazed over crimson cadmium leaves blanketing the trees in Astoria Park. The sky was coral, cobalt and enormous; you could see forever. After our run, we ate breakfast at our regular spot, the Neptune Diner. Sitting in a cozy booth, we ordered their rich, sweet, and creamy hot cocoa as the sun rose through the large glass windows alongside Astoria Boulevard below the el. The heavy mug warmed my cold, tiny seven-year-old fingers. This routine became a ritual of ours, for a short but very special time; my father passed away suddenly of cancer three years later. Every one of our visits to Neptune Diner, nobody rushed us out, or expected us to buy more, and to no avail, we always received service with a smile. How do you measure outstanding customer satisfaction when the loyalty and dedication is that of Neptune; like family.
It’s memories like this one which pangs my heart to say, Neptune Diner is permanently closing this upcoming Sunday, July 28th at 11:30pm. This week is your last chance to enjoy New York City’s best cup of coffee, coupled with their crispy corn muffin toasted with butter, or a juicy burger deluxe you can smell from the parking lot. The iconic neighborhood diner, located at 31-05 Astoria Blvd., will close their doors forever. The manager Chris shared with me, “On behalf of all of us here at Neptune, we want to give a very special thank you to all of our dedicated customers throughout the decades.”
Closed Disneyland restaurant is being rethemed with a new menu
Diners at Hungry Bear Restaurant in the heart of Disneyland’s Critter Country are treated to views of the Rivers of America and the Mark Twain Riverboat. Photographed June 19, 2024. Andrew Pridgen/SFGATE
From SFGate: Critter Country at Disneyland feels like it’s quickly changing — and maybe for good reason.
It’s devoid of marquee rides, sandwiched between the rejuvenated and steadily expanding New Orleans Square and the newest land, the popular Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. For many, it’s little more than a restroom stop or maybe a chance to grab some waterfront shade when traversing between sought-after attractions like the Haunted Mansion and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
But something is happening at Critter Country that may make it stand out at Disneyland for a long, long time. The Hungry Bear Restaurant — home to a fabled funnel cake and perhaps the best and most reasonably priced burger and fries combo ($13.99) inside the park — could be entered into the National Register of Historic Places. That makes it one of a formidable trio of potentially protected attractions at Disneyland — a first for the park, which turns 70 next year.
Effort underway to preserve colorful panels on Lehigh Valley Dairy building
WFMZ-TV | Priscilla Liguori
From WFMZ: WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — An effort is underway to save some of the colorful panels on the Lehigh Valley Dairy building. The iconic structure is being demolished, after sitting vacant since 1989.
“This has been here forever,” said Neil Melcher, the owner of Melcher Brothers Masonry. “This is a landmark.”
Fundraising is underway to help safely remove these bright panels on the Lehigh Valley Dairy building.
Mirage artifacts to be on display at Las Vegas museum
Mirage artifacts to be donated to Las Vegas museum. (Courtesy: Mirage and the Neon Museum)
From Fox5 Las Vegas: LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Artifacts from the recently closed Mirage on the Las Vegas Strip will find a new home.
Hard Rock International announced several items will be moved to the Neon Museum in downtown Las Vegas.
“Hard Rock is very pleased to contribute The Mirage artifacts to The Neon Museum,” said Joe Lupo, President of Mirage Hotel and Casino. “This iconic property that transformed the Las Vegas Strip can be remembered forever and we appreciate them preserving one of our city’s greatest treasures.”