That's Why They Call Me Shine!

One of my very favorite places in Los Angeles is the original Farmers Market.  Founded in 1934, Farmers Market has become a Southern California institution and a major tourist destination.  Truly, it deserves an entire post of its own as it is such a beautiful landmark.  On any given day, visitors can buy fresh produce, sample foods from all over the world, and visit Shine Gallery!   

I guess I am a bit of a junking/treasure hunting/thrifting snob.  I don't really feel like I have found a treasure unless I have unearthed it from among a pile dirty clothes, chipped ceramics, and broken electronics.  There is something about sleuthing in a thrift store, bargaining at an estate sale, or broiling under the California sun at a swap meet/flea market that makes me feel like I have earned the artifact - a less-handsome, less-rugged, less-adventurous, trash-digging Indian Jones.  For that reason, I resent stores where cool things are abundant and out in the open for everyone to see.  Shine Gallery is really no exception to my nutty neuroticism, but I can't help but love it.  Shine is a wonderland of dead stock novelties and collectibles and every time I go to Farmers Market, I come away with something awesome from Shine.  This post is just a bunch a photos that hopefully, will have you making your way to Farmers Market for some food, fun, and treasure hunting!

Mary (Mary-Go-Round) & Jessie (Jessica Stopnik Photography)
at Shine Gallery

An interior view of the store.
Don't let the giant $1.50 sign fool you; not everything at Shine
comes at dime store prices.  I go there for inspiration but usually
find a few things that fit my miniscule budget.

Vintage Fold-Away shopping baskets
 make loading up a heck-of-a-lot easier.

I love the way the store is designed/merchandised.  It is very clean and but far from sterile as the goods are so colorful.  They even use those Fold-Away shopping baskets to stage items for sale.

They're doing nothing to quell my fixation with pennants!

Pennants and the circus!!!!

For reasons that will be forthcoming shortly, my most recent obsession is vintage circus/carnival memorabilia.  I realize I am either very late to jump on the bandwagon or very early for the next 

go-round.

The oversized, novelty, name buttons are a hit with me; I have two already.  Unfortunately, they don't have any that say "Mr. Tiny."  One day I hope to achieve "Picture Patch" status.  Sadly, I think I've passed my teen idol years.  Dick Clark, Ricky Nelson, and Fabian have nothing to worry about.

3 great reasons to START smoking with you new Finger Cigarette Ring:
"Hold your cigarette while your hand relaxes,
No hazard of dropping cigarette while fatigued,
No more nicotine finger stains"

Shine Gallery carries everything from everyday, vintage postcards to more obscure and 

collectible pieces like this ice-skating, beer bottle man, lamp with fiberglass shade.

I love Christmas stuff.  I think this feather-bearded, glitter
Santa would be even happier at my house.

Babies in a box and monkeys in a sack.

They even have 1930's Disney merchandise!

They carry some things that are pretty socially unacceptable, but that 

offer insight into the mindset of a different time.

Vintage cowboy/girl goods!  Fortunately, I have a little self-control.

Mary & Jessie were not above flirting with
 the staff to try and get a discount!

Shine Gallery (Inside Farmers Market LA)
6333 3rd St #134
Los Angeles, CA
(323)954-4700

shinegallery.com

"Shine" - Louis Armstrong

We just started a new Facebook page to accompany our little ol' blog.  Consider this an engraved invitation to join wacky tacky on Facebook!

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Chow Time: Bob's Big Boy Broiler

Bob's Big Boy Broiler - Downey, CA

In the heart of Downey, CA now stands a monument to true "California Cuisine," namely, Bob's Big Boy Broiler.  Bob's "Big Boy" hamburger was the creation of Glendale's own Bob Wian in 1936.  After changing hands a few times over the years, the Big Boy corporate headquarters are now located in Michigan.  Bob's Big Boy restaurants are franchised, but the owners of the Downey location have done it right by acknowledging the history of the chain and the history of it's location - including all of the brilliant neon!

The BBB Broiler originally opened in 1958 as Harvey's Broiler.  In the 60's, the restaurant was sold and became the original Johnie's Broiler (subsequent Johnie Jr.'s opened around Southern California).

Harvey's Broiler
Compare this late 50's view of "The Broiler" to the new image at the
end of the post; they truly did a thorough and thoughtful restoration.
(Source)

Johnie's Broiler
In a nod to the restaurant's past, BBB has saved the Johnie
from the sign and has it displayed at the entrance to the parking lot.
(Source)

For decades, the iconic broiler signage heralded both savory and sweet delights for drivers on Firestone Boulevard.  In sadder days, the building languished as a car dealership and eventually, was partially demolished by an unscrupulous landowner before preservationists and concerned citizens intervened to save the landmark.  Fortunately, the BBB corporation stepped up and did a faithful recreation/expansion of the original building.  We're happy because the finishes are attractive, comfortable, and steer away from the ubiquitous red/white or magenta/aqua color combinations that plagued "retro" diners for so many years.

Beautiful signs abound!

The California landscape surrounding the restaurant is
beautiful but clearly, they need to do some weeding.

One of the early BBB uniforms.
In my opinion, the atmosphere could only be helped
 by having the wait staff wear these again.

I love those cantilevered, button-tufted barstools
almost as much as I love terrazzo floors! 

Cool light fixtures

Mr. Tiny is still on his crummy diet, so you'll have to be satisfied
 with a picture of Mary attacking her monster burger!

In terms of the food,  Mary thought it was better than the Burbank location.  The soda fountain treats must've been delicious because EVERY table in the whole joint ordered a brownie, fudge sundae (with the one exception ordering a banana split)!

BBB did a great job at restoring the broiler
building and maintaining the period details.
Heck, even the litter outside is old-timey! 

Our Downey adventure didn't begin or end with Bob's, we decided to drive throught the surrounding neighborhoods and check out more of what Downey had to offer.  After our New Year's experience, with the people and the parade float of Downey, it should not have come as any surprise that I liked what I saw.

I would never have guessed that my dream house would be found in Downey.
My favorite houses have always been ones that look like a child's drawing
of a house.  And while I have absolutely no political aspirations whatsoever,
 I dream of living in a white house.  True, the landscaping could stand a little
 revision and a walk up to the front door, but the basic symmetry, quaint
charm, and green roof really send me. 

We also caught a glimpse of this mid-century modern house that was painted
the most golden of goldenrod hues.  The garden was a beautiful mix of
tropicals and succulents.

In our travels we came across some sweet civic art in the City of Paramount.
I am a sucker for primary colors, but the undulating form of skewered pennants
 is what really sold me.

Bob's Big Boy Broiler

7447 Firestone Blvd

Downey, CA

(562)928-2627

www.bigboy.com

Bob's Big Boy Broiler on Facebook

Oops,  I almost forgot to include our Big Boy!

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

The Aquabats Super Show!!

I didn't start this blog as a commercial venture.  I refuse to endorse any product or program without thorough research and proper self-reflection.  I'm no corporate shill.  I won't hock something just because someone is coming through with the old payola (only because no one has tried).  The only way to earn my endorsement is theough pure, unadulterated nepotism.   Last summer, Mary found a pretty sweet job as a wardrobe assistant on the new, hit, kids' program, "The Aquabats Super Sow."

Last Saturday, we were invited to the season one wrap party being held at Volcom corporate headquarters.  The night included food, friends, and a viewing party.

Everybody gathered on the skate ramps to watch the premiere of two episodes.

Being that it is a contemporary children's show, I went in under the false assumption that there would be some redeeming value, a "message."  Boy was I wrong; the show is just childish humor, animated sequences, sight gags, crazy monsters, and burger rain!  It is refreshing to watch a show that is just silly for silliness' sake and doesn't hammer you over the head with a lesson on environmentalism - sorry, Lorax!  We can credit the cast, the writers and the director, our friend Jason, who also lends his considerable talents to "Yo Gabba Gabba!"

They may not hammer you over the head with a message on conservation,
but it is entirely possible that they'll run you down in their battle tram.

Most of the festivities were held in the indoor skate park.
Every kid made full use of the facilities - those who
couldn't skate used the ramps as slides!

Get out of my way kids!

The best part of the night was when Mr. Tiny took down some guy

 who was foolish enough to plant himself at the bottom of the ramp.

(terrible pictures but so much fun)

Not only did Mary help with wardrobe for the show, she will
 also appear as an extra in some upcoming episodes.
Her name even appears in the credits!!!

After the viewing party, The Aquabats took to
the stage for a live performance.  Being an Orange County native,
I knew all about The Aquabats but I had never seen a show.

Mary shows off her crew member swag - an
Aquabats Super Show T-shirt!

I have seen the first three episodes and they actually made me laugh out loud.  If you're awake at 8am on Saturday mornings and you're still inclined to eat cavity-inducing cereals while watching cartoons and wearing your blanket as a cape, then be sure to check out "The Aquabats Super Show."  Giant Man-ants, monster chickens, Sharpee mustaches, Napoleon Dynamite, the constant search for food - all these things spell wacky tacky TV!

(Source)

"The Aquabats Super Show" airs Saturdays on The Hub Network; check your local listings!


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Bowl-O-Rama: Palos Verdes Bowl

We grew up in Kona Lanes territory.  It really never occurred to us that any other bowling alleys existed.  Now that bowling is back on the wacky tacky map, we decided that we need to explore all of the other vintage bowling alleys that still dot our landscape.  When we see one of these temples of 20th Century leisure, we have committed to stopping in and checking out the greatness.  On a little jaunt up to Torrance, CA, we saw the five-story, orb-topped spire of Palos Verdes Bowl (est. 1958), and we couldn't help but pay our respects.

I'm not a drinker, but sometimes I think it would only take seeing one more
simple, white light box with the word "cocktails" in black, block lettering to
get me removing my teetotalers membership badge. 

AMAZING!  Studded among the natural rock wall

 are giant, orange and aqua, glass rocks that are lit from within.

The original bench in the locker room repeats the color
scheme found throughout the whole bowling alley.

The best part about Palos Verdes Bowl is their stellar marketing campaign headed with the slogan, "PV Bowl is a simple, yet nice bowling alley without any craziness."  I think I'll have that needle-pointed on a pillow.  Truly, PV Bowl is a great place and if you live in the area, you have no excuse for not patronizing your local bowling alley.  Don't let it go the way of Kona Lanes (a weed-ridden, empty lot for the last 9 years where once stood a majestic temple of tiki).

Palos Verdes Bowl

24600 Crenshaw Blvd

Torrance, CA

(310)326-5120

pvbowl.com

"The Bowling Alley-Cat" (1942)

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny