Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The Wagon Wheel

A few weeks back I was having some strong cravings for one of my many favorite desserts.....peanut butter chocolate pie.  Where can you buy this incredible pie??  You, my good friend, will need to travel to Escondido, CA and visit The Wagon Wheel to get your fix on.  If you are nuts and peanut butter chocolate pie is not your cup of tea, they have many other choices to choose from.


Dave and I discovered this fine restaurant while thrifting in Escondido sometime during the summer.  The restaurant has been in business since 1953.  It's packed with western themed flare including a life sized cutout of world famous cowboy John Wayne.  They serve breakfast all day, which is always a huge plus as I'm known to have brinner (breakfast for dinner) frequently.







So good!!!







Be sure to check it out for yourself, have a slice of pie with a side of excellent customer service!
 
Till' Next Time,
 
Suz
 
P.S.  I had thought about organizing a meet up for bloggers at VIVA. Is anyone one else interested in meeting up?  Dave and I plan on going to Frankie's Tiki Room in the afternoon on Sunday.  That may be a good opportunity to do it.  I'm completely open to other suggestions.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Clearman's North Woods Inn (La Mirada)

Last month, word got out that a Tiki restaurant, Bahooka located in Rosemead, CA, was closing it's doors after more than 50 years in business.  I honestly had never heard of the restaurant before the mention of it closing but knew I would have to take some time and plan a quick trip up north to check it out.  Unfortunately I didn't do hardly enough planning as to what was needed.  After a very frustrating three hour drive, Dave and I arrived at the restaurant only to find that there was a four hour wait (it was already 7:30p) and they wouldn't be taking reservations for the remainder of the evening.  We took a quick peek around, turned around and decided to revert to a newly devised plan.



We always pass by this snow topped restaurant when ever we are headed North on the 5 Freeway.  Either Dave or I always comment on how we "need to check that place out sometime".  Well this was clear opportunity to check it out.  The restaurant is called Clearman's North Woods Inn and is located in La Mirada.  I already loved the exterior design as my parents live in a log cabin styled house and it reminds me of home.



We walked into the restaurant and were both in awe of the decor.  There was a mixture of Tiffany styled lamps, stuffed animals, and nudie paintings.  Due to our previous experience we were hoping for a less busy atmosphere to eat in as now we were starving!!




We opted to sit in the bar/waiting area.  There was a gentleman playing some jazz piano and I'm always a fan of live music.  They offer a bar menu that is separate from their steakhouse menu.  There were plenty of great options to choose from.  We started out with two drinks and snacked on the complimentary peanuts which you are encouraged to toss the shells on the ground.  We had great service and the staff was very friendly.  I thought their saloon styled uniforms were a nice touch.  I personally think personalized uniforms make a world of different as opposed to a company named smacked on the corner of  a t-shirt worn with jeans.  It just adds a finishing touch to the atmosphere.  Sadly I was too shy that evening to ask to take a picture to share with you.













 
There is actually a second half to this story.  The following Monday, after our trip up north, I woke up to find that Mr. Tiny of Wacky Tacky had done a blog on a restaurant located in Covina, CA of the same franchise.  Come to find out he and his sister Mary were actually at the restaurant the exact same night Dave and I were there, just at a different location.  It turns out they then headed to the Bahooka to meet up with friends that had been waiting for four and a half hours for a seat.  We in a sense then crossed paths that night. Smart minds think alike!
 
Till' Next Time,
 
Suz
 
 

 

Monday, March 11, 2013

Dapper Day Spring 2013

Last month Dave and I attended the 3rd Annual Dapper Day Spring event at Disneyland.  Last year this time was our first year participating in the event and we knew that it would become a tradition in the years following.  For those of you that are unaware of the event, it's a day to attend the park dressed up.  It's a throwback to the original artist sketches of the park showing guests donned in dapper duds.  Please be sure to check out their website Here. 

As much as I love to wear vintage, I have made a point for all three events I have attended not to.  The reason being I'm too scared that I'll ruin my dresses in a days worth of walking, sitting, ridding, throughout the park.  I still however always accessorize with vintage items.  I wore my Mad Men Banana Republic blue floral dress I purchased a year ago in Las Vegas (on clearance of course).  I topped if off with my vintage black swing coat, vintage black purse and hat all thrifted.  Dave wore all vintage (he lives on the edge) going for the 1940's look.  He was told twice that day that he looked like Walt Disney minus the mustache of course.


Dave taking me for a spin down Main Street.

 
We got there right when the park opened.  It's a great way to avoid big Sunday crowds.  We were able to literally walk onto our favorite rides before the park got too crowded.





Annie get your gun!

 
This photo cracks me up every time. 



Halfway through the day we met up with my friends Rebecca, Lisa and Natalie with their fellas.  They all looked so great!!



Getting our Tiki fix at the Enchanted Tiki Room.



 
One of the last things we did that day was have a mint julep.  As my friend Natalie said "It's not Dapper Day until you have had your mint julep in style".

 
Till' Next Time,
 
Suz

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Enchantment Under the Sea Dance

Last month Dave, I and friends attended the 3rd Saturday Parlour Parties gathering featuring Lil' Mo and the Dynaflos.  I caught them preforming at the Grand National Roadster Show last year and have ever since been meaning to see them again.  They mentioned it had been a while since they had performed in San Diego so I knew this wasn't a show I wanted to miss. There is a blog about them by New Rockabilly here.  This month's event was actually a themed birthday celebration for Isela who is one of the organizer for this awesome monthly gathering.  Be sure to check out their facebook page here.  The theme of the night was "Enchantment Under the Sea".  Again I knew I wasn't missing this event being that I'm such a fan of the movie "Back to the Future".

There were many many great dancers on the floor all evening.  Made me remind Dave once again how important it is for him to teach me as soon as possible how to east coast swing dance.


Me and my lovely friend Lindsay.

 
Lil Mo and the Dynaflos joined by our friend Jonny of Jonny B and the Avenues.


Jonny and Dave.

 
Dave and I.



This is Elisa.  She hand made this remake of the coral gown that the character Lorraine wears to the dance in "Back to the Future".  She did an amazing job!  I loved that she had the costume so detailed even wearing baby's breath flowers in her hair.  She even had this cute hologram picture that Marty carrys throughout the film of his siblings that slowly starts to fade away as time is being changed. She said I was the only one that caught the reference of the dress.  Yes, I'm that kind of movie nerd.

 

This unfortunately was the best picture I could get of "Doc".

 

 
I bought my dress months ago at a thrift store (of course).  It's actually a 70's dress but I thought the moon print was appropriate for a 1950's themed dance.  This is Dave and I dancing to "Earth Angel".  The band played a few of the songs from the movie.  They played the saxaphone song you hear when they first show the dance in the movie, Earth Angel, and of course Johnny B. Goode.
 
 


Our prom picture!

 
Till' Next Time,
 
Suz