Thanks to Karla and James for this spicy spotting!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
El Imperio Discoteque, A Latin Night Club Thats Fiery Hot! Norcross, GA
El Imperio is so hot, they have a dragon for a mascot...
Thanks to Karla and James for this spicy spotting!
Thanks to Karla and James for this spicy spotting!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Giant Ice Cream Stand, Orlando, Fl
Recently, on a road trip to Orlando, my friend Rachel and I came across this giant ice cream stand. Obviously inspired by the iconic Twistee Treats, these guys tripled the size and placed it in a great visual location, where it is scene from quite a far way down the road. Of course, we had to pull over and grab a shot, ah-mazing!
Thanks to Rachel Ezzo for the perfect posing! xoxo
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
I puked at The World's Largest Peanut in Ashburn, GA
This giant nut was a HUGE must-see for me, so when I finally had a chance to road trip to South Georgia, I jumped on it. Little did I know that the night before, my super luxurious glasses of pink champagne would put a damper on the next-day early morning drive. But the time with a dear friend and the beautifully crowned peanut monument made the tortured drive worth it. So I sucked it up to pose in front if it, then promptly turned and tossed my salad. Now that's a memory.
Erected in February, 1975, this peanut was designed by A.R. Smith, Jr., and was dedicated to the memory of Nora Lawrence Smith, member of the Georgia Journalism Hall of Fame and co-publisher of the Wiregrass Farmer.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Giant Wizard, Orlando, FL
If you look closely, you will see my friend, Rachel under the wizard, so you can tell the actual size of this thing. It's insanity!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Giant Red Paper Clip, Marietta, GA
I was pretty excited to spot this giant paperclip in the backyard of an art gallery in Marietta. I was totally excited to sit on it, but alas, it was made of plumbing pipes painted red.... almost makes me want to build one for myself!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Check out Gabriel Aldaz's new book: Right Palm Up, Left Palm Down
Gabriel shares the same passion for fiberglass giants so he wrote a book! Check him out!
http://rightpalmup.com
http://rightpalmup.com
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Bryan College Station, Itasca, TX
"We went to Bryan College Station this weekend and on the way home we stopped when I saw this big cat. It's the Itasca Wild Cat mascot. I had Uncle Roger stop so I could get a picture for you. I'm keeping my eye out for unique things and carry my camera with me all the time now. Hope you like it. Love you, Aunt Susan"
A sweet thanks to my Aunt Susan who is such a good sport to join in on the fun!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Isaac Poses in Front of his 1st Landmark!! East Granby, CT
We are breaking him into tradition... quirky landmark photo ops... I didn't realize how posing my first nephew on a fiberglass creature can totally bring this addiction to a whole another level... too excited! I can only hope that he will have the love like I do, so we can visit many together for years to come...
Thank you Mary & Mike, you are the best. I still can't even believe you did this for me...
Monday, October 5, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Our 10 Year Wedding Anniversary at Rock City, Lookout Mountain, GA
For our ten-year anniversary, since I am a romantic at heart, all I wanted to do was to enjoy a picnic on Lover's Leap at Rock City. For some reason, Rock City is the epitome of romance on a retro level.
To me, Rock City is THE landmark of all landmarks, with the history of the all-time best advertising around. With so many industry firsts, Rock City has been a place I've wanted to go for some time now, so it was perfect that I got to spend my tenth anniversary there with my true love.
Rock City Gardens’ history as a world-famous tourist attraction dates back to the days of the Great Depression, but its history as a geological marvel of nature reaches back several million years before that.
Historical evidence shows that Native Americans inhabited Lookout Mountain. It was in 1823 that two missionaries, Daniel S. Butrick and William Chamberlain, arrived in the area to minister to the Indians. On August 28, 1823, Reverend Butrick made an entry in his diary describing “a citadel of rocks,” atop the mountain, noting the immense size of the boulders and stating that they were arranged in such a way “as to afford streets and lanes.”
By the time the Civil War reached the slopes of Lookout Mountain, more and more people had discovered what was already being called “the Rock City.” During the famous battle of Lookout Mountain, both a Union officer and a Confederate nurse speculated in separate diary entries that one could see seven states from atop the summit. Rock City remained well known to hikers and geologists throughout the latter portion of the 1800’s, but it would take the dawning of a new century before the fabulous Rock City would reach its full potential.
The man who would eventually make Rock City a household name was, appropriately enough, himself a product of the Tennessee hills. Garnet Carter was born in Sweetwater, Tennessee in 1883. At the age of 11, he and his family took up residence near Chattanooga on Lookout Mountain. A born promoter, Carter had tried and succeeded at a number of business ventures before hitting on the idea of developing a residential neighborhood on the top of Lookout Mountain. Launched in 1924, the new community was to be known as Fairyland, named so because of his wife Frieda’s long-time interest in European folklore. One of the enticing features of Fairyland was to be a golf course, but construction took considerably longer than was planned. In order to appease those who were clamoring to play golf, Carter responded by fashioning what is now recognized to be the nation’s first miniature golf course. Because of its popularity, Carter decided to franchise this miniature golf concept all over the United States; hence, the origins of Tom Thumb Golf.
While Garnet Carter was “putting” around with Tom Thumb Golf, Frieda Carter had begun a project of her own. The 700 acres of Fairyland also encompassed the legendary Rock City, and Frieda set out to develop this property into a rock garden to end all rock gardens. When the Depression hit, Tom Thumb Golf fell to the “rough” and Garnet focused on his other business interests. It appeared to him that Frieda’s endeavor with Rock City had possibilities.
Frieda has taken string and marked a trail that wound its way around the giant rock formations, ending at the giant outcropping known as Lover’s Leap. She also had collected wildflowers and other plants, and had them transplanted along her trail. Frieda’s gardening was supplemented by imported German statues of gnomes and famous fairytale characters, which were stationed at points along the trail. Entrepreneur that he was, Garnet realized his wife had something there that lots of other people might be willing to pay to see. The rest, as they say, is history.
Rock City officially opened as a public attraction on May 21, 1932. It got off to a slow start, because advertising in those days was difficult; especially since Carter’s mountain-top attraction was not located in a place that people would just happen to be passing by and take notice. It was at this point another brilliant idea of Carter’s was born. He enlisted the help of a young sign painter named Clark Byers, who was hired to travel the nation’s highways and offer to paint a farmer’s barns in exchange for letting him paint three simple words: See Rock City. The distinctive black-and-white signs appeared as far north as Michigan and as far west as Texas. The advertising soon began to produce the desired effect and, by the close of the 1930’s, more travelers than ever had seen Rock City Gardens.
Since its beginnings, Rock City has continued to attract an increasing number of tourists from all over the world. Each year, more than half a million people visit the attraction to enjoy the many natural splendors that abound. Over the years, several features have been added to the original attraction, including the popular Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village, the Cornerstone Station, as well as a myriad of shops and restaurants. In addition, annual events such as the Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights during the holiday season bring guests in by the droves. And the gardens Frieda so lovingly planted have also grown through the years to include more than 400 different species of native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees.
As Rock City Gardens moves past the 75th year of operation, it has become a true American icon. Under the able leadership of Bill Chapin, a third-generation descendant of Garnet and Frieda, Rock City’s mission is to “Create Memories Worth Repeating.” With its nostalgic history, as well as its continual expansion for the future, Rock City Gardens has earned its reputation as a world-class destination and promises to be for generations to come.
History from seerockcity.com
SEE ROCK CITY!
To me, Rock City is THE landmark of all landmarks, with the history of the all-time best advertising around. With so many industry firsts, Rock City has been a place I've wanted to go for some time now, so it was perfect that I got to spend my tenth anniversary there with my true love.
Rock City Gardens’ history as a world-famous tourist attraction dates back to the days of the Great Depression, but its history as a geological marvel of nature reaches back several million years before that.
Historical evidence shows that Native Americans inhabited Lookout Mountain. It was in 1823 that two missionaries, Daniel S. Butrick and William Chamberlain, arrived in the area to minister to the Indians. On August 28, 1823, Reverend Butrick made an entry in his diary describing “a citadel of rocks,” atop the mountain, noting the immense size of the boulders and stating that they were arranged in such a way “as to afford streets and lanes.”
By the time the Civil War reached the slopes of Lookout Mountain, more and more people had discovered what was already being called “the Rock City.” During the famous battle of Lookout Mountain, both a Union officer and a Confederate nurse speculated in separate diary entries that one could see seven states from atop the summit. Rock City remained well known to hikers and geologists throughout the latter portion of the 1800’s, but it would take the dawning of a new century before the fabulous Rock City would reach its full potential.
The man who would eventually make Rock City a household name was, appropriately enough, himself a product of the Tennessee hills. Garnet Carter was born in Sweetwater, Tennessee in 1883. At the age of 11, he and his family took up residence near Chattanooga on Lookout Mountain. A born promoter, Carter had tried and succeeded at a number of business ventures before hitting on the idea of developing a residential neighborhood on the top of Lookout Mountain. Launched in 1924, the new community was to be known as Fairyland, named so because of his wife Frieda’s long-time interest in European folklore. One of the enticing features of Fairyland was to be a golf course, but construction took considerably longer than was planned. In order to appease those who were clamoring to play golf, Carter responded by fashioning what is now recognized to be the nation’s first miniature golf course. Because of its popularity, Carter decided to franchise this miniature golf concept all over the United States; hence, the origins of Tom Thumb Golf.
While Garnet Carter was “putting” around with Tom Thumb Golf, Frieda Carter had begun a project of her own. The 700 acres of Fairyland also encompassed the legendary Rock City, and Frieda set out to develop this property into a rock garden to end all rock gardens. When the Depression hit, Tom Thumb Golf fell to the “rough” and Garnet focused on his other business interests. It appeared to him that Frieda’s endeavor with Rock City had possibilities.
Frieda has taken string and marked a trail that wound its way around the giant rock formations, ending at the giant outcropping known as Lover’s Leap. She also had collected wildflowers and other plants, and had them transplanted along her trail. Frieda’s gardening was supplemented by imported German statues of gnomes and famous fairytale characters, which were stationed at points along the trail. Entrepreneur that he was, Garnet realized his wife had something there that lots of other people might be willing to pay to see. The rest, as they say, is history.
Rock City officially opened as a public attraction on May 21, 1932. It got off to a slow start, because advertising in those days was difficult; especially since Carter’s mountain-top attraction was not located in a place that people would just happen to be passing by and take notice. It was at this point another brilliant idea of Carter’s was born. He enlisted the help of a young sign painter named Clark Byers, who was hired to travel the nation’s highways and offer to paint a farmer’s barns in exchange for letting him paint three simple words: See Rock City. The distinctive black-and-white signs appeared as far north as Michigan and as far west as Texas. The advertising soon began to produce the desired effect and, by the close of the 1930’s, more travelers than ever had seen Rock City Gardens.
Since its beginnings, Rock City has continued to attract an increasing number of tourists from all over the world. Each year, more than half a million people visit the attraction to enjoy the many natural splendors that abound. Over the years, several features have been added to the original attraction, including the popular Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village, the Cornerstone Station, as well as a myriad of shops and restaurants. In addition, annual events such as the Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights during the holiday season bring guests in by the droves. And the gardens Frieda so lovingly planted have also grown through the years to include more than 400 different species of native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees.
As Rock City Gardens moves past the 75th year of operation, it has become a true American icon. Under the able leadership of Bill Chapin, a third-generation descendant of Garnet and Frieda, Rock City’s mission is to “Create Memories Worth Repeating.” With its nostalgic history, as well as its continual expansion for the future, Rock City Gardens has earned its reputation as a world-class destination and promises to be for generations to come.
History from seerockcity.com
SEE ROCK CITY!
Sir Goony's Golf, Chattanooga, TN
Since miniature golf was basically invented at Rock City, there was no way that we could not play a romantic game of miniature golf in Chattanooga during our anniversary trip.
Sir Goony's has been around since 1960. Eventually with their success at this location, they began locations all over the US starting with Florida. The unique, retro figures were designed by Barbara Magrath who along with her husband Dutch Magrath which set them apart from other mass-produced mini golf courses.
Miniature golf was first patented by Garnet Carter (see Rock City) in 1927 and was originally called Tom Thumb Golf. Garnet Carter built his miniature golf course on Lookout Mountain in Tennessee to draw traffic to the hotel he owned. His wife, Frieda Carter did most of the designing of the course's obstacles which had a fairyland theme since she was a lover of folklore and nursery rhymes.
I love owls! This is the first giant owl I've ever seen!
Oh, they have a muffler man too!!
Sir Goony's has been around since 1960. Eventually with their success at this location, they began locations all over the US starting with Florida. The unique, retro figures were designed by Barbara Magrath who along with her husband Dutch Magrath which set them apart from other mass-produced mini golf courses.
Miniature golf was first patented by Garnet Carter (see Rock City) in 1927 and was originally called Tom Thumb Golf. Garnet Carter built his miniature golf course on Lookout Mountain in Tennessee to draw traffic to the hotel he owned. His wife, Frieda Carter did most of the designing of the course's obstacles which had a fairyland theme since she was a lover of folklore and nursery rhymes.
I love owls! This is the first giant owl I've ever seen!
Oh, they have a muffler man too!!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Giant Santa, The Christmas Shoppe, Helen, GA
Been on the lookout for this one... saw it on someone's Flickr and been searching ever since...
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Owltown, GA
On our road trip to Helen, GA, we stopped somewhere in Owltown and enjoyed a great owl-themed thrift store and this strange, strange tourist trap...
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