Some people love donuts. Cops for example are stereotypically associated with the donut. Maybe they do love donuts as much as they are portrayed to, but I have a theory, one that comes down to the donut shop. See, the majority of representations we see of officers of the law come from film and television, most of these shows take place in Los Angeles, even if the setting isn’t LA, generally they are shot here. Of all the places I have ever been to, I have never seen a city so filled with donut shops (that and places that serve pastrami all over shit) as LA. Yelp has around 465 donuts listed in LA County - although I think its much more than that even. My point is, with the hours cops have and the surprising lack of places that are open 24 hours a day, donut shops are sort of the default establishment for cops. Or maybe cops just love donuts.
Continue reading ‘The Donut Hole - La Puente, CA’
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The first time I had a loose meat sandwich was at a Maid Rite franchisee in Phoenix. It was tucked away off Bell in a shopping plaza that had what was called a Waldenbooks and More. It was like a Waldenbooks but instead of being at a mall, it was a stand-alone store – larger than your average Waldenbooks. It was the closet thing to a Borders or Barnes & Noble before they took over and Borders eventually bought up all the Walden’s. I was waiting for hours at this store with my mom for some sort of Walter Cronkite book signing and the Maid Right was the only food in the plaza.
Also known as a Tavern, very exciting a loose meat sandwich is not. The Tavern is like a burger but instead of a patty it’s made with what is basically unspiced taco meat, like a sauceless sloppy joe. I remember thinking the Maid Rite sandwich being not only unimpressive but pretty gross. It was one of those things that you had to grow up on and when introduced to new communities through franchises they don’t necessarily connect. This was confirmed by the fact that all the Phoenix locations (there was another Maid Rite at what was once called Westridge Mall, now Desert Sky) closed, but what I didn’t know was that Tavern was created in Sioux City, IA and then popularized in the area by Maid Rite.
Continue reading ‘The Battle of the Loose Meat Sandwich - Sioux City, IA’
I knew it was coming. Roughly 8 hours into the drive I finally saw it. Nowhere seems less appropriate for the haute couture of Prada, but there it sat, in the distance, light spilling onto the barren highway floor. A 15×25 adobe box structure, interior lit to display the brand’s high-end handbags and shoes, but the door is always locked.
Prada Marfa is not a store but one of the most widely recognized sculptural works of the 21st century. The contrast between the expansive, arid landscape of the West Texas high desert and a store that is more commonly found on Rodeo Dr. or 5thAve. is just as bewildering as it sounds.
Continue reading ‘Prada Marfa - Valentine, TX’
If there is a major, must see roadside attraction in Sioux City it is Trinity Heights. Home to what are clearly the most impressive 33 ft. Jesus and Mary statues that side of the Missouri River. Continue reading ‘Trinity Heights - Sioux City, IA’
