Congress Hotel In Tucson In recent years I've seen fake "dial phones" that really have push buttons and I've messed with old rotary phones that don't work. But on a recent visit to Tucson, our hotel had a working antique phone. ![]() I didn't really need to make a call, but I decided I should take the opportunity. When will I have this chance again? So I called the front desk and asked a random hotel question, that I didn't really need an answer for. After I finished, I picked up the receiver and invited Don to take a photo, to mark the memory. Remind me next time to be a little more authentic in my photo posing. I look like I'm talking on the phone...while I'm dialing.
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Peggy Sue's Diner I didn't really need to do the diner thing again, since I started this blog with a malt from a soda fountain. But when we ran across this authentic diner, (on a highway, after entering California from Nevada) we had to stop. The idea that Peggy Sue's Roadside Café opened in 1954 with 9 counter stools and 3 booths, was pretty cool. The idea that the diner was sort of in the middle of nowhere, (on a road called Ghost Town) got me a little giddy.
The fact that the waitresses wore a pink and blue uniforms with snappy caps, was an added treat. A special bonus point goes to this smiling server because her name was Shirley! Perfect! Frankie's in Las Vegas Polynesian-themed Tiki bars were all the rage in the 1950's, so Don and I tracked one down in Vegas. Frankie's 24-hour Tiki Room is not in a touristy area, so we trusted our cab driver to find it. "This looks awesome!" I said with a grin as we stepped up to the not yet glowing, neon sign. The cab driver chuckled and said we'd find out pretty soon, as he kindly took our photo. It was cave-black when we stepped inside and it took many minutes before our eyes could make out the carved tiki figures, bamboo furniture, coconut and palm décor. It sure felt like we'd stepped back 50 years in time, until we noticed glowing cell phones. Sadly we had to pull out a cell phone, as well. It was the only way to read the meun of rum cocktails!
Old Tradition with an Old Friend! Well, my friend is not old...she's a month younger than me. But we met 47 years ago....and the hideous May Basket I made for her is a tradition that goes back further than the fifties. I remember as a child, making little baskets from cupcake liners and pipe cleaners and adding a few yard flowers or candies before dropping them on the porches of my friends. I hadn't seen Amy in over 40 years, so I hoped she would still have a good sense of humor, when I handed over this basket....created with some stuff I found in my car. Luckily when we met up for lunch in Carlsbad, Amy had a good chuckle when I handed her the somewhat mangled treat. Happy May and Happy Birthday to Amy. She is celebrating her BYB today!
Champagne Music! I was never exactly a big fan of the Lawrence Welk show, but I loved my grandmother, Daw. I couldn't resist pleasing her when she gently encouraged me to come sit with her on the couch in front of her big color TV to watch when the dancers came on. Little did I know that one day I would have the chance to hug Lawrence himself. Well at least the statue version, on display at the Welk Resort, where they happen to be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Mr. Welk's fine complex. As I squeezed one of his arms, the other worked the baton and I just swear I could hear him whisper in my ear, "Wunnerful, Wunnerful!"
During our stay, Don and I made sure to have a champagne toast to Lawrence and his TV show, that started just a couple years before I was born! |
![]() 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!
April 9, 2014 My BYB! I don't remember the 1950's, since they ended when I was 2. But since I turned 57 today and this is my BYB (Birth Year Birthday) I'm going to just appreciate the flavor of 1957! My goal is to celebrate in at least 57 simple ways throughout the year! I will dabble in the fashion, the foods, the music and the culture of those times...just for the fun of it! Archives
April 2015
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