Identity Crises

A BMW sits near a construction site with a Ford sunshade in Los Angeles.

City Hall in Pasadena, California

You have probably seen this building in a movie or tv show including Parks and Recreation. Historic Pasadena, California city hall.

A classic McDonald's...

McDonalds in Downey California
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

It is no surprise that car loving Southern California was the birthplace of many of the fast food places we know so well today including McDonald's, Del Taco, Taco Bell, Carl's Jr, Wienerschnitzel, and In 'N Out.

For many, it may surprise you to find out that McDonald's did not always have those big restaurants with the play rooms and inside seating. Instead they started out like many fast food places of the time with just walk up windows and outside seating.

This paticular McDonald's still retains its classic 1950/1960's styling. It is not a retro restaurant but a authentic time machine to the past. The sign at the intersection of Lakewood Blvd and Florence hasn't changed in decades. It is a throwback to a time when McDonald's weren't the generic, boring, poor quality (OK, personal opinion) fast food place we know today.

It has been many years since I had driven by this restaurant but since my wife and I were in the area we decided to drive by and see if it was still in its original form and sure enough, there it was.

So if your driving through Downey, California be sure to get off the freeway and take a quick trip to this relic of the past. You never know when it may disappear.

A photo turns special

Ross Dress for less and Metro Hybrid
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

In my last entry I mentioned the day my wife and I had in Seattle while visiting a friend between taking different Amtrak trains. After visiting the Pike Place Market my wife and I headed toward Seattle's bus tunnel in order to catch a bus down to the International District in order to find some Chinese Food (we were not impressed with the Chinese Restaurant at Pike Place on a previous visit).

My wife decided to run into a Rite Aid for a couple of things so I decided to get the camera out and take a couple of pictures hoping I the Seattle Police department wouldn't arrest me (there was an incident with a photographer in Seattle shortly before the trip).

I took this picture of a Metro Articulated Hybrid which were still fairly new at the time in front of a Ross Dress for less store which I used as a background because of the design.

Later when looking more carefully the building look as though it could have been a former Woolworth store which was confirmed my someone on Flickr.

My father worked for Woolworth's for many years and would supervise their construction projects across the west. It then hit me that this was the very store that my father was working on when I was born which is another funny story in itself.

I was way over due in the days before they induced labor. My mother had to return to California so at the last minute she hopped a Greyhound bus for Los Angeles (yes Greyhound used to be respectable and safe to ride).

I was born about a week after my mother arrived back in Southern California and for some strange reason the buses arrived early at every driver change point.

You never know when a random picture might turn into something special...

Long Dead but still around

Fedco Sign in Colton, California
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

In November 2006 when my wife and I were on extended vacation in Southern California to visit family plus hit some sights, we passed this sign but we did not have the opportunity to stop since we were on our way to visit my Uncle.

In October, 2007 we made another trip down there before taking Amtrak's Coast Starlight up to Seattle so I made sure to have a few minutes to get a picture of this sign.

So what's so special about this sign.

Well for those that are not familiar with the company, Fedco was a chain of stores (I think there were similar to a K-Mart of the time but I am not sure since I never was in one). However, this chain died probably 20 or 25 years ago.

So the fact that this sign which is near the San Bernardino/Colton on Mt. Vernon along what was US Highway 91 is still around is amazing. A friendly reminder of retailing history much like the old Woolworth store in Bakersfield, California that is now an antique store but still has the Woolworth sign and trim.

Wig Wam Motel Rialto California

Wig Wam Motel Rialto California
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

This shot taken from Foothill Blvd (old Route 66) is of the Rialto, California Wig Wam Motel. There was originally several of these motels most of them along Route 66 with this one having been recently restored.

If you stay at this motel, your room is one of the individual tee pees.

We have not stayed there yet but plan to on our next trip to Southern California to visit family.

Ricks Burgers Tacos in Pasadena California

Ricks Burgers Tacos Pasadena California
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

This little unassuming Burger stand sits at the corner of El Molino and Foothill Blvd in Pasadena, California. It opened a year before I was born and has survived the onslaught of mediocre fast food chains and other competition over the years. What it may not be able to overcome is a developer that can make more money from Condos after buying the land the Rick's sits under. Fortunately the present real estate market has put the development on hold so we get to enjoy Rick's a few more times.

Rick's has been part of my life for many years. Just after I was born we lived in a place just three blocks away from Rick's (which was later bulldozed to build Interstate 210). My mother would put me in my stroller and push me down there so she could have lunch.

I cannot tell you how many meals I have had at Rick's over the years. I have never found a place that makes a combo bean/beef burrito that could compare to Rick's.

After leaving Southern California for green pastures, I still would stop at Rick's ever time I would return for whatever reason. Then on my trip in November of 2006 I saw the announcement that Rick's was being forced to either move or close.

I took this picture on the way to my brothers house in Victorville, California thinking it my be the last time I see this place that has been a part of my life for so many years.

Well I have been able to enjoy Rick's a few more times since that trip and hopefully we can enjoy it again in April when we make another trip to Southern California.

Seal Beach Marina in Southern California

Seal Beach Marina
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

Took this picture on the last day of vacation in November, 2006. Southern California was experience record highs with most of the days being in the 100's. Our final day turned out to be one of the nicest of the whole trip.

My wife and I had passed the marina on the first day of our trip after we had flown into the Long Beach Airport and decided to return on our last day for a few more pictures.

Just as I was finishing up the picture some guy comes up and asks "Are you a terrorist?".

There was so many comebacks that I thought about giving him but since my wife and I had a flight to catch, I just said no and walked away.

Sycamore Inn

Sycamore Inn
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

This is the front of the Sycamore Restaurant that is located just east of Upland, California on Foothill Blvd which is part of old US Route 66.

My family had dinner hear on several occasions as my Uncle, my brother, and a friend of the family all lived in close proximity.

This restaurant has been here for years. In fact there is actually gun shot holes near the bar from old west shoot outs that occurred in the building back in the day.

The restaurant was closed when I drove through here in 1994 and was slated to be bulldozed for new development but fortunately it was saved and reopened.

Sunset Shot

Sunset near Del Mar, California
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

Took this photo just north of Del Mar, California while my wife and I were on vacation in November, 2006. We spent the day at the Wild Animal Park outside Escondido then drove west to Oceanside and south along old US Highway 101.

As we approached a bridge I saw that the sun was about the set so I parked our rental vehicle along the side of the road ran over to the edge of the road and took this picture.

I took dozens on sunset pictures with my film cameras when I lived in Lincoln City, Oregon in 2000, but this was one of the few sunset pictures I had taken since that time.