Pee Wee's Big Adventure - The Cabazon Dinosaurs

If you've seen Pee Wee's Big adventure, then you've seen the Cabazon Dinosaurs. On his search for his stolen bicycle, on a dark desert night...( who can forget large Marge?) Pee Wee winds up in a small town at a road stop diner. There he makes friends with the diner waitress, and fellow dreamer, Simone.

In one famous scene Simone tells Pee Wee about her dream to go and live in France - as they watch the sunrise from inside the jaws of a dinosaur. What really got to me , even as a small child, about that scene (the whole movie actually), was that we should all follow our dreams, no matter how big, or impossible they may be - we should all ignore our "big buts" and start going after what makes us most happy.

In real life you can't go and watch the sunrise in the dinosaur's mouth. But, you can go and grab a bite to eat at the Wheeler diner and take a snap shot of the Cabazon Dinosaurs, and re-live a childhood moment.

I'm glad that we stopped in Cabazon on our way to Palm Springs.

See that Bright yellow thing behind me? That's the rental car we ended up with for our trip. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard as I did, when going down the lot to pick up our car and discovering that the bumble bee colored car was ours. Yet, somehow the color and humor of it all really fit in well with the trip.

The Orbit In / The Hideaway Palm Springs

After months of rain and grey weather, I had a moment of insanity and during a rainy lunch hour after weeks of being cooped up at home and office - I booked a trip to Palm Springs. Let's just say that action may have just been the most sane thing I've done. Our trip to Palm Springs was just the thing we needed. Sun, swimming, biking and really just gorgeous scenery. It also didn't hurt that we had an amazing stay at the Hideaway (one of the Orbit In properties) this place really is just magical.



Beautiful mid-century design.



Cocktail hour at the poolside bar.



Wonderful atmosphere.



The view from our patio space/room - where Mario and I spent time chatting and taking the scene in.



Amazing pool.






I got a lot of relaxing done.



Oh yeah, and they had vintage cruisers for guests to take out around town.









It really felt like I was living in a movie.

It was our first time in Palm Springs but it definitely will not be our last - I think this where we will go when the grey of the bay wears us down and we need to recharge.

The Oasis

One of the more amazing places that I've been to. The Thousand Palms Oasis in the Coachella Valley. It's hard to convey the atmosphere in photos or words. The pictures look still, but it was actually very windy - the wind was in fact howling. I did take some video of it that I'll have to post here later.

Themis

Lately I've been obsessing on all things past. In particular things to do with California history. Well, entertainment, fashion, and design history to be more exact. With our upcoming So Cal. trip and our visit to the famous Chateau Marmont on Sunset. I am of course planning a drive up through Laurel Canyon. If you've been reading this blog for sometime you may be aware of my love of that Laurel Canyon 60's vibe and style. The Chateau was a fixture for musicians of that era, and to most Laurel Canyon was a place to meet - for some it was home.

Most of that creative vibe is gone now, and Laurel Canyon is a place known for million dollar homes. How I wish that Pamela Courson's shop Themis was still there (if only there was such a thing as a hot tub time machine) Now the shop is an oriental rug depot. Not fun.


"Pam was very fashion conscious and Jim agreed to finance a Boutique for her. Themis, named for the Roman goddess of justice, was opened by Christmas 1968. Raeanne Rubenstein (the photographer hired to take photos for Themis) described it as "a romantic poetry den- not at all like any place you would imagine being located in Southern California- more like something from Paris”.
She also talks about lots of richly coloured tapestries on the walls, small mirrors and feathers on the ceiling, tie-dyed dressing room curtains, lots of candles, perfumes, incense and racks of clothes that were very European with styles that had not yet gained popularity in the U.S. Themis became very popular with the Hollywood crowd. Pamela traveled to Europe frequently to stock her store. The store was hardly ever open and kept odd hours."

From Break on Through








I really love her style - long hair, billowy or lacy tops and high waisted jeans. I'm all for it!

Ocean Beach - Playland

I grew up spending my summers on the Cape. Our home was in Yarmouthport - quietly tucked away from the mini-golf courses, Ice Cream stands, and tourist traps of Hyannis. But, oh how I used to love to hop on a bike and head to those beach town (yet sadly not beach side) attractions. Summers always meant fun and adventure, romance, and all manner of coming of age cliches. I'll always hold a soft spot in my heart for summer things - long bike rides, collecting shells, boys with sail boats, beach towns, arcades, funnel cake & frappes, boardwalks, and sea side carousels.

I found that here on the west coast there are still thriving beach side boardwalks the Santa Monica Boardwalk and the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz - but I wish that this place was still around...












Ocean Beach - San Francisco. Apparently this is all an apartment development now, Playland was torn down in the 70's. Read more about it here.

New Things !

Once I catch up on work that I've fallen a bit behind on - I need to go check out these new spots and of course, report back.





Reliquary in the Hayes, just opened last month. I need to go check it out.

"Reliquary is a highly curated collection of apparel and accessories, antique jewelry and folk art, in San Francisco's Hayes Valley neighborhood. Merchandising current small designer lines with hand picked vintage items, Reliquary will remain a tightly edited assortment of goods, always presenting a clear and trend resistant point of view, both easy to shop and unexpectedly diverse. It is important that Reliquary never feel like a consignment shop, or even a vintage store, but rather a collection of things that are timeless and beautiful.. a curiosity shop of sorts. Catering to someone that buys vintage pieces because they make her style individual, Reliquary will mix high end and low end and decades and cultures to create an assortment of amazing pieces that have a history, but still feel very relevant today."


Also, Homeroom, the Mac & Cheese restaurant opened (not too long ago) just around the corner - I need to go try their homemade Root Beer and vegan GF Mac & Cheese!!