Outrigger Apartments in Temple City (for Tiki fans - Do Not Disturb Residents! Do not trespass)

Hey - Check out LA Time Machines New Sister site -  Old School Retro Las Vegas - www.unrealvegas.com

ART DECO:

The Art Deco Home  - Beautifully designed website with incredible detail on all things Art Deco.  Excellent resource from our friends across the pond. Someday I'm going to upgrade my site to look as good as theirs - someday! /

The Art Deco Society of Los Angeles - Los Angeles is a treasure trove of Art Deco history, buildings and interiors.  Art Deco was the ultra futuristic look of the past.  My favorite Art Deco sights in the Los Angeles area are the Queen Mary, the Eastern Columbia building, the Oviatt building and the Pantages Theater, but there are hundreds of other buildings, especially in downtown, Hollywood and the Miracle Mile.  Check out this organization to learn more about these treasures. //

Art Deco Society of Washington (D.C.) -  Another extremely extensive site on Art Deco history based in Washington with a very extensive webpage. You will definitely enjoy it! /

Art Deco Collection.com - Talk about a great place to buy your dream art deco pieces. Be forewarned - if you check out this site, you're going to want to buy everything!

BLOGS:

1947 Project - Fascinating site with a very unique topic.  The site documents the year 1947 including everything from the Black Dahlia to Bugsy Siegel. A window into an era gone by - one visit and you will be hooked! Kim and Nathan who run this site are some of the coolest people in Los Angeles!!! /

L.A. Observed - This is a truly great blog on Los Angeles. Excellent information on current happenings in Los Angeles, as well as some great information on Los Angeles history as well. And the author of the site solved the mystery of the fifth Brown Derby (see my Brown Derby page).  If you haven't bought Kevin Roderick's book on Wilshire Blvd - you know nothing about Los Angeles!!! One of the best books ever. If you care about LA - you have to check out this blog, the 1947 Project and the LAist on a daily basis! /

LA Color - Blog with really beautiful pictures and retro Los Angeles themes and of course, the wonderful world of color. Authored by a nice guy! /

LA Ritz  - If you want to learn about where the really great food is in Los Angeles from someone, unlike me, who really knows about food, check out this site.  The beautiful pictures alone will make you hungry! /

Franklin Avenue - Really nice blog on Los Angeles that covers a lot of themes in common with my website. Lots of nice pictures on classic sites. Franklin Avenue is of course one of the coolest streets in town. After all, the Montecito is there. /

Terra Non Firma - Nice blog on Los Angeles with a good variety of architecture discussions and links - and very honest commentary. /

B.E.L.T. (Built Environment in Laymen's Terms) - Check out this blog and their other websites - lot's of great photography and information on Commercial Architecture.

The Diner - Nice Los Angeles blog that concentrates on good old American comfort food - from Ribs to Chow Mein! By a fellow guy from Maryland. Plenty of Baltimore Colts history as well. If anyone is up on Johnny U. it's this guy. /

LA.Foodblogging - All encompassing food blog in LA. Neat resource to answer all your Los Angeles food questions. /

The Lope - Great blog with many themes in common with this site. Really nice pictures as well from the Southern California area. /

Classic Cars of Los Angeles - Great blog on classic cars in Los Angeles that one stumbles upon spontaneously when traveling around Los Angeles.  Nothing enhances the time machine effect of Los Angeles more than a classic car!

CAFES/RESTAURANTS:

Classic Cafes - Perhaps the only other website on the history of restaurants (well Cafes) besides my site and the sites dedicated to American Diners (if there are more out there, let me know!).  This is an essential resource if you are going across the pond to the UK. Over there the time machines transport you wayyy back! /

HISTORY/MODERNISM/PRESERVATION: 

Victorian Secrets of Washington, D.C. - Nice site on vanishing Victorian buildings in D.C. as well as other beautiful buildings here and there, by someone who obviously cherishes our architectural history.

The Story of Classic Las Vegas - Two major must see documentaries will be released this year on Las Vegas, based on hundreds of interviews of those who experienced the Vegas golden age.  For a "preview" of these documentaries checkout this new site with great vintage Vegas graphics. Lynn Zook is perhaps the greatest modern historian on Las Vegas pop history. /

Lottaliving.com - A very extensive Modernist website with lots of information, pictures and a user group called Mondo Lounge that's lots of fun. Highly recommended for anyone into the offbeat retro future style of the 50s and 60s. If you into the atomic age - this is the place to be. This is the cutting edge of Modernism in the U.S. Run by the Modern Committee of the Los Angeles Conservancy. /

Society for Commercial Archeology - this fantastic site is obviously closely related to my topic, but of course far more extensive. Roadside, signage, neon, you name it. I urge you to visit it. They have an angle on history not covered by anyone else.

The Los Angeles Conservancy -  the group is bravely fighting to keep Los Angeles' historical buildings from being demolished. Their "Last Remaining Seats" program is a must see, where closed movie palaces are opened for one night. Nothing short of incredible.  They show classic films, sometimes with a live orchestra and sometimes with the movie stars from the films.  This is one of the only ways to see the interior of the Los Angeles Theater or the Orpheum. Their walking tours on Saturdays are one of Los Angeles' best attractions for tourists or locals.

Jet Set modern.com - Beautiful site on Modernism with all sorts of Modern furnishings for sale as well as a great on-line magazine.  Lots of great pictures. //

Kerry Beary - Great site by an artist in the Modernist style.  Really cool artwork to purchase and enjoy (buy before he becomes so popular you can't afford his work!).

Meteorlights.com - Man - just looking at the Modernist lamps for sale on this site put me in a mellow mood. You've got to check them out. The site has great graphics as well.

Modern Abode  - Offering original furnishings, accessories and decorative arts from the 60-s - 80's with an emphasis on Scandinavian design. /

Hi+Lo Modern.com -  Nostalgia, Tiki, Mid-century Modern - you can buy anything here. Seeing the colors alone are worth a trip to this site. They will dazzle you. /

Planetoranj.com - If it's mid-century modern, they sell it here.  Wouldn't it be cool to have a room in your house that looked like it was the space station in the movie 2001? They can help you do it! /

ATOM-A - Really excellent site from Belgium on Modernism. Atom-A offers a profusely illustrated overview of mid century modern design, furniture, architecture, ceramics and advertising, plus an extensive virtual museum of European 50s ceramics and advertising - kind of like I'd like my site to be but atom-a has much better graphics!/

City-furniture - Great site from Belgium for beautiful Modernist and Retro Furniture, lighting etc.  I think they have better taste in Belgium than the U.S. judging from this merchandise. /

ROADSIDE/MOTELS/SIGNAGE/NEON:

Road Trip America - If you are embarking on a road trip, this site is a must see first. Very well organized site with extensive resources, maps, books and just about everything else you need before you explore. /

Motels of the Southwest - A great site for those of you into neon, that hypnotic, somewhat lost art, you'll love this site.  A beautiful poster of Motel neon is also available for purchase. /

Debra Jane's Homepage - Incredible site, especially for roadside vernacular architecture (e.g. the Brown Derby). Lots of wonderful photos. Load's of nostalgia. /

Bygonebyways - great website on Rt. 66 and other nostalgic highways, now rapidly disappearing - make sure to check it out! /

Roadsidepeek - One of the best sites I've discovered. Loads of really good pictures on neon motel signs, Googie, tiki and all roadside retro. A must see site!  Wish I could do nearly as well. Talk about an incredibly wide coverage of the U.S./

Roadhouse Relics -  Some really great vintage art and neon to be purchased.  If you are recreating a vintage place - you need this guy's neon signs to be truly authentic!

LOS ANGELES GENERAL:

Electricearl.com - nice site on all things Los Angeles, especially music resources. Very well established on the web. Check out his daily webcam of Los Angeles - for those of you like me, who know what it means to miss "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora La Reyna de Los Angeles de Porsiuncula" . His site also reminds me that I should not have sold my 1964 pre-CBS Strat back in high school for $150!! //

Things to Do in Los Angeles -LAOkay.com - Nice site on hundreds of things to do in Los Angeles and other areas of California. All sorts of topics and activities. Lot's of historical pictures. Good resource for Googie Restaurants. /

Latourist.com - Lots of great information and links on all aspects of visiting Los Angeles. /

Aprilbaby - All around fun site on Los Angeles and living in the suburbs by a fellow bohemian. Well designed. Extremely well written. Wish she would do a book on the San Fernando Valley. /

Hollywood USA - Great site on all things Hollywood. Lots of nice pictures. /

UltimateLA - Nice all around resource for Los Angeles, with plenty of well thought out restaurant and bar listings, both old and new.

LA Photos - LAPhotos.com --Photos from Los Angeles and Southern California. They also have books and posters related to Photography, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Hollywood and California.

Streets of Los Angeles - Incredible site of images of Los Angeles - Not the plastic sterilized tourist photos one is used to - this is the real Los Angeles!

TOURS - LOS ANGELES

LAS ANGELITAS - Wonderful group dedicated to the History of "Nuestra Senora La Reyna De Los Angeles de Porcuincula" - the original Los Angeles Pueblo. Check out their site for free tours and historical information. I think these tours are free.

Next Stage Tours - There are tours here for just about every interest one can have in Los Angeles conducted by a nationally known expert guide. Check it out!

LAS VEGAS IN GENERAL:

Living Las Vegas (Megan Edwards) - Great site on all topics relating to Las Vegas, tourism and travel.  Get all the info you need here before you visit.

Kathy Kroll's Web Page - Great site on the Classic Days of Las Vegas Casino Entertainment, by a former dancer and lovely lady who experienced it all first hand.  Lot's of great photos.

Vegas Hipster - Las Vegas Hipster, Las Vegas Travel Guide, Hotels,  Casinos,  Entertainment, nightlife and the Do's and Don'ts of  Vegas.

THE WORLD IN GENERAL:

Things You Should Do - Ever find yourself sitting around bored and with nothing to do. Shame on you! With this website, you can find all kinds of new activities and pretty much anywhere in the world. Adios couch potato!

RETRO OR TOO HARD TO DESCRIBE:

Retrodesign - Nice site from France on a variety of modernist products and furniture. /

Retrodiner - Ok - this site's in Japanese - but the pictures are definitely worth a visit even if you don't read Japanese. This person is definitely into American modernism, which is nice coming from someone raised in Japan. Nice graphics as well, and the webmaster is promising to come out with an English version soon.

Polar Inertia - Journal of Nomadic and Popular Culture - fascinating and unique site - a bit hard to describe - cross overs between pop culture and commercial architecture (including signage and roadside) - it's called the journal of nomadic and popular culture - I strongly suggest checking it out!

Planetglass - while we are discussing all things retro, why not check out and purchase the beautiful mid-century modern glass on this site. Each piece a true work of art. /

Martinimusic.com - Go here to find four great sites in one.  Lounge music, book a real lounge band, art deco furnishings, art deco photography and live acts - it just goes on and on.  These are my type of people! /

Miscellaneous:

Yard Sale Bloodbath - If you are like me and love garage sales - check out this great blog by my cousin who really knows her stuff!  Plenty of laughs and very well written. There are few greater joys in life than the mega-deal at a yard sale!

Povonline - Well designed site with things of interest to everyone - Hollywood, Broadway, Las Vegas, Comic Books and much more.

Jatbar.com - Jason's and Terry's Bay Area Review - Lot's of great restaurant reviews for San Francisco, but includes some classic places in Los Angeles as well.

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Old Restaurants of Los Angeles that are Remodeled

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My Choices for Top Ten Best Los Angeles History Time Machines for Various Categories

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