How the Afterglow of Modern Phoenix Saved a Bunny

Modern Phoenix Week was great! There were so many levels such as the homes, history, design, education, but what really made it were the people. With all those people your bound to make connections. There was a Senior singles meetup group that car pooled, the discovery of friends on the tour, and connections made with once strangers who have become friends. The after party featured a food truck called Beet StrEAT serving tasty food, that happened to be vegetarian.Where I learned that several new friends were vegetarian. [caption id="attachment_520" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Welcome Diner, Phoenix, Ariz"][/caption] Fast forward to a new trend of POP Up restaurants; where a local eatery is temporarily located. Welcome Diner is such a place now with Chef Peyton [caption id="attachment_517" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Easter menu created by Peyton Curry April, 2011 - Notice lack of meat? "][/caption]Diner has 9 seats inside and we had 9. There were nine dishes so you do the math. We were able to walk in and order one (sometimes two) of everything, including luscious deserts. Those in the know will say that we were sitting at the chefs table and we were able to sample a few non menu items and taste components of some dishes like the pickled raisins. YUM! So a handful of wayward folks became fast friends through sharing that common food experience and no Bunny was harmed in this Easter celebration.[caption id="attachment_519" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The group after a great meal at Welcome Diner, Phoenix, Ariz"][/caption]

Your fridge and You!

With the great nights we are enjoying I have this nagging voice in my head about what is a head. Yep. It'll get warm! and warmer. With the thought in mind I am always on the look out for ways to cook up some grub that doesn't heat up the entire.

Enter cooking with your fridge. Huh... this idea was popular back when an icebox no longer needed ice delivered, but would cool food on it's own. Magic, no convenient yes... time saver.... yes! Back in the day you would have likely received a Refrigerator cookbook with your new fridge. There were also plenty of pamphlets for sale to help you figure the ways a newfangled contraption could benefit you. Not that I think anyone would argue now.

Growing up eating items cooked in the fridge was a great thing for a latchkey kid, but what about a more experienced platte. I hopew to be sharing dishes I have made, though since it's beautiful out I have had no time to cook. Luckily many of those Fridge Cookbooks have pic of the amazing items you can make.

Today I bring you: Your Electric Refrigerator and KNOX Sparkling Gelatine from 1953. Today we look at the Asparagus Bavarian Salad. YUM![caption id="attachment_505" align="alignright" width="172" caption="Knox Gelatine brochure Copyright 1953 "][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_506" align="alignleft" width="238" caption="Asparagus Bavarian Salad"][/caption]

Just the though of glistening whipped cream, asparagus, pimentos and gelatine (Knox of course) has my mouth watering. Especially when served as suggested with mayonnaise or French dressing.

Bon Appetite my Retro Friends
[caption id="attachment_508" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Recipe for Asparagus Bavarian Salad"][/caption]

Sign of the Times

[caption id="attachment_484" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Glen Guyett and the Arizona Bank logo"][/caption]Name something iconic on Camelback. [caption id="attachment_487" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="My Florist, Phoenix, Ariz."][/caption]Sure many of you joined me in shouting out "Courtesy Chevrolet," with it's twinkling lights and that big bold arrow that points to value. It is a treasure on the strip, name some other signs in the Valley that have wormed their way in to you conciseness:Bill Johnson's Big Apple, Mr. Lucky's, My Florist, Buckhorn Bath's in Mesa. These signs have more in common, than their giant size. They have endured and are standing. One more thing they were created by the hand and from the artistic talent of Glen Guyett.


These erect icons harken back to our history and show a passion for the automobile. Ever wonder what roadside wonders we have lost? Let's begin to discuss what we have and how to preserve them.

Glen and I will be recapping our Marshall Shore: Retro Spectacular January presentations (Phoenix New Times Review) as part of Modern Phoenix Expo at Scottsdale Center for the Arts. The presentation titled Roadside Neon of Central Arizona starts at 12:30 on Stage 2. Arrive early because seating is limited

Modern Phoenix is NOW!

[caption id="attachment_479" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Eye Opener in Sunnyslope, Ariz."][/caption]Though the weekend was rather rainy, it was still very exciting. Why you ask? There was the kick off event for Modern Phoenix Week at the Fabulous! Phoenix Metro Retro (708 W. Hazelwood St.) this weekend also featured the Sunnyslope Art Walk, always a grand time, and those tents came in handy this year. The morning began with a group of people leaving the Eye Open, a staple on Hatcher and embarking on a Keep it Weird: Sunnyslope tour, led by yours truly. For our comfort and sharing during the experience; Sunnyslope's John C. Lincoln Health Network graciously provided a bus for the adventure. There was also, The Ultimate Tour of the Hotel Valley Ho. Enough with what happened! How can you still participant in Modern Phoenix events? Take a look at the calendar. There are still chances to tour the Hotel Valley Ho and pick up a ViewMaster 3D reel and viewer.


Marshall Shore: Retro Spectacular on Thursday April 14, 7p @ Phoenix Metro Retro. This is the last show of season until next September. I'll cover new information and an overview of the last 2 seasons. The shows have been named a best of Phoenix by the Phoenix New Times. Admission is $5 at the door, seating is limited.



Saturday is the Modern Phoenix Expo at Scottsdale Center for the Arts where you will find vendors, fun, and drawing for 2 home tour tickets (which is SOLD OUT.) There will many presentations Roadside Neon of Central Arizona will feature Iconic Sign Designer Glen Guyett, and myself. There will the hands on workshop about researching your mid century home or neighborhood lead by the amazing fount of knowledge John Jacquemart. Learn about tear down issues in Arcadia and across the country.

This Modern Phoenix Week is sure to go down in the record books and YOU have the opportunity to be involved. Come on out to the wide range of events and bask in the glow of the Mid Century heyday of the Valley.

Friday Ariz. History Question

Where are the oldest palm trees in Arizona?
[caption id="attachment_470" align="alignleft" width="168" caption="Marshall Shore climbing a live palm tree inside the Richland County Public Library in Columbia, SC"][/caption]

Arizona History meets Columbia, SC

[caption id="attachment_461" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Columbia, SC and Arizona connection"][/caption]I am always amazed about where Arizona history seems to connect in unexpected places. Recently while speaking at the Richland County Library, in Columbia, SC I notice a building with plaque. [caption id="attachment_462" align="alignright" width="179" caption="Big Apple Juke Joint, Columbia, SC"][/caption]A plaque is nothing unusual for a town with lots of pre-civil war era buildings and history. But what I found made me squeal with delight and want to cut a rug. Ok, not cut a rug exactly, more like cut the "Big Apple." I located the building famous for the creation of the "Big Apple," a dance craze developed in the 1930s. The former House of Peace Synagogue became an African American juke joint called the "Big Apple Night Club."

Once while chatting with the owners of the local iconic eatery, Bill Johnson's Big Apple, [caption id="attachment_463" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Bill Johnson's Big Apple, Phoenix, AZ"][/caption]I learned that the restaurant was named for a dance craze. Little did I realize that my travels would connect the dots, or should I say apples, all the way on the other side of the country.

Grover Cleveland Thompson

[caption id="attachment_432" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Grover Cleveland Thompson's handy work in the Sunnyslope rock garden."][/caption]Grover Cleveland Thompson built his rock garden in the Sunnyslope neighborhood of Phoenix, AZ from 1952-1974. He began the monumental construction when he retired at the age of 65. Thompson was inspired by Petersen's Rock Garden in Bend, OR, which was near where he had lived. He used anything he could find, such as, concrete, rocks, broken pottery, bottles, and other discarded objects to create sculptures and fountains. Among the hundreds of structures, there were seven fountains and seven windmills. Thompson died in 1978 and the property has been cared for and maintained by the new owner, Marion Blake, since 1979.

See this and other sites on April 9th from 11a-3p. Buy your tickets

Barbecue Season is Here

[caption id="attachment_439" align="alignleft" width="195" caption="1957 BIG BOY Cover"][/caption]With the soaring temps returning to Arizona a bit early, I thought I would break out the Big Boy Barbecue Book: Shows how easy it is to cook on Spit or Grill.

Great for recipes of hat beau hunk of yours to make on the and keep feed in the manner that you have become accustom to. Here is my pick of the week. It doesn’t even go on the grill.“A beautifully arranged platter of fresh fruit spears is simple to prepare and adds interesting color and texture to a meal.”

You might serve fruit instead of those old boring veggies off the grill.

Bon Appetite [caption id="attachment_438" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Yummy Fruit Spear Platter"][/caption]

Keep it Weird: Sunnyslope Tour

[caption id="attachment_412" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Somewhere Over the Rainbow, where bluebirds fly and a Fox Theater medallion lives (long ago demolished)"][/caption]This tour is extremely limited, BUY TICKETS NOW!


Modern Phoenix week Kicks off with a bang! This very limited and exclusive bus tour of Sunnyslope, will visit some of the wonderful, wacky and weird places that make the Slope a truly unique community.

Q: What astonishing places will you visit, on the Keep it Weird: Sunnyslope Tour?
[caption id="attachment_407" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="El Cid Where the 60's meet the present, via the Medieval Sunnyslope"][/caption]
A: Marshall Shore: Retro Spectacular will lead the group at 11a to board the bus at the Eyeopener, get there early for a snack and the opportunity to stroll among the special vintage car show. You will need the sustenance in preparation for the startling tour of the mysterious Medieval Castle El Cid, the staggeringly gorgeous Thompson Rock Garden, and meeting Gus, wandering through his delightful Building Material Museum, and be astounded at every turn. BUY TICKETS HERE.
Special thanks to John C. Lincoln Health Network for their Sponsorship of this tour

Plan on spending the day Sunnyslope Style with the tour and followed by the Sunnyslope Art walk the same evening.

Sponsored by

Arizona Trivia Question

Friday's Arizona Trivia Question:

Q: What POP Culture Icon film a movie in 1968 in Tucson?

Extra credit: if you can name the studio and film?

Prize
Be the first to answer the trifecta correctly, and become the proud owner of a T-shirt from Marshall Shore: Retro Spectacular. [caption id="attachment_399" align="alignleft" width="304" caption="100 % up-cycled T-shirts created by Marhall Shore"][/caption]

Large Golf Ball and UFOs in the High Desert

[caption id="attachment_391" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Golf Ball House near Yucca, AZ"][/caption]While driving north on 40 you will pass a large golf ball looming of the road near Yucca.

The lore of this place is that it was built by a nephew of Henry Ford. Why? What used to be the Ford Proving ground for testing autos, now owned by Dodge. The original idea is that this building would be a restaurant, the kitchen was under ground and the Golf Tee is really a dumb waiter that would have delivered food to the main floor. The business never opened, because a single ramp was the only way to get in and out of the joint and it couldn't pass the fire code. A while ago a couple bought the place and finished as a house. Instead of landscaping they located two UFOs that had been built for a museum, attached them to a cherry picker and instant lawn ornaments. Some nights when the couple got board they would plug in the Christmas lights on the UFOs and raise and lower the cherry picker, causing a spike in phone calls to Federal agencies and reporting UFOs. [caption id="attachment_392" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="UFO at Golf Ball home "][/caption]

Having recently sold, the new owner have added a concession stand to fuel tourist and preserving this unique home for others to enjoy.