Well? Now you know. Bigfoot has some junk in the trunk. He got them Applebottom jeans, the boots with the furrrrrr…
To be honest, I’m not sure why wondering about the goings on of the big man’s hindquarters hadn’t plagued me sooner, but here we are. Cryptid butt cheeks reveal themselves in their own time.
The day that we dropped our daughter off for her first year of college in Boston, we drove passed this aptly named Shell Spectacular sign for the first time. And this sign is exactly that – spectacular. From that day forward, each time I’ve been to Boston I’ve said to myself “I need to snap a picture of the sign this time!” It only took me 4 years to make good on that.
While visiting Boston a few weeks ago, we made a little detour during our Blue Bike ride and I was able to see this gorgeous baby up close, and while stationary. A real looker, huh?
187 Magazine Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts
This happy halfwit Mortimer Snerd style Muffler Man and his super-cute giraffe friend can be found standing outside of Arnold’s Family Fun Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania.
Is it just me or does this muffler man look kind of shrug-y? Like his neck is too short. Or maybe his traps are huge. Either way, I can’t say I’ve ever noticed that before on any of the other guys. Maybe he carries all his stress in his shoulders.
Something about that darn giraffe’s face is so sweet to me I just want to huggo the stuffin’ outta him. And the way he’s got that hind leg kicked back like a show dog? ::chef’s kiss:: Magnificent.
I’ve said it before but it bears repeating with each muffler man visit; it is fascinating to see what details a painter will highlight on a muffler man. The outlined choppers on this bad boy are a nice touch. It isn’t uncommon to see the Snerds with a gap-toothed smile. Instead, he’s giving piano keys with lips reminiscent of latter year Michael Jackson. It’s a lot.
Prior to this perch, this halfwit muffler man stood on the Seaside Heights, New Jersey boardwalk where he was cast off with other debris from Superstorm Sandy. Roadside America has a photograph of him laying prone in a heap. While a parking lot in Pennsylvania might not be as exciting as the boardwalk at Seaside, this relocation to Oaks is nonetheless a triumphant return for the scrappy giant.
Plus? Giraffe. Giraffe is a win.
In the time that I have had a conscious interest in muffler men it’s been wonderful to see more and more people documenting, restoring and caring about these bastions of Americana. Social media has certainly contributed positively to continuing their legacy.
Long live the muffs, forever and ever, amen.
2200 West Dr, Oaks, PA 19456
As I stood looking at the Cincinnati Toy Heritage mural, a sing-songy flow of words stumbled drunkenly out through the creaking saloon doors of memory dedicated to the 1980’s.
“I’m the Peculiar Purple Pieman from Porcupine Peak.”
Uh, what?
“Peculiar Purple Pieman.”
Yes, I heard you. I don’t know what that is.
“Of Porcupine Peak.”
OMG. Seriously?
“Peculiar Purple Pieman.”
You’re an asshole.
Sometimes those dusty remembrances can be rather nagging, particularly about very important things. You know, like the Strawberry Shortcake? The character, not the dessert.
It’s been 40 years since I’ve contemplated the Peculiar Purple Pieman, if I ever in fact contemplated him at all. But, there he was front and center, feeding a dinosaur a pie on that mural and rat-a-tat-a-tating his way through my childhood memories. My sudden awareness of him hit me in the face like a cartoon frying pan, surprising even me.
My childhood best friend had a Strawberry Shortcake character doll and I can remember huffing the delicious plasticky fruit scent with all of the imagination and wonder of an 8 year. Scrumptious.
Aside from simply being a beautifully painted mural tribute to toy manufacturer Kenner, this work is a walk down memory lane. Kenner and it’s toy commercials punctuated so much of my childhood. The brand was so intertwined with pop culture happenings throughout the 80’s that even saying its name brings a wave of nostalgia that is hard to qualify.
If you happen to be in the Cincinnati area, this particular artwork is not to be missed.
ArtWorks Cincinnati mural list
23 W Court St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
The Coffee Pot or sometimes referred to as the Koontz Coffee Pot after it’s 1927 builder, is roadside American royalty. Calling Bedford, Pennsylvania home, the Lincoln Highway giant is a whimsical treasure. It handily earns it rightful place on many a “must-see roadside attractions” lists.
As the elder Griswold would say, “It’s a beaut, Clark.”
There was a time when I wanted to see the Coffee Pot so badly but it seemed just too far out of reach. Sitting at my computer, I’d plot out whether I could ride my motorcycle out to it and back home in a single day. The pot holds court some 330 miles away from where I live. Sure, an out-and-back ride was doable, but it would be a long highway drone for a short visit. At that time in my life, I kept coming to the conclusion that the price was just too high. And so, I never made that single-day, coffee pot-focused trip.
Fast forward a couple years, and what was once fantasy became reality. I visited the Coffee Pot for the first time in 2009.
Life is funny. At times it seems like you can manifest your wishes and whims into reality in an almost subconscious way. All of the little gremlins at the controls inside inch us ever closer towards those desires and experiences we seek.
I’ve seen the Coffee Pot quite a few times now. As a matter of fact, when I am passing Bedford, I don’t seem to be able to resist stopping to see it. In some strange cosmic twist, this mimetic architecture gem has become almost something of a touchstone for that corner of the world. Did I even pass through the area if I didn’t see the Pot?
Even I cannot say for sure why the big pot has had such an enduring hold on my interest. Except perhaps… that it’s just awesome. Can you ever have too much of that in your life? Maybe these periodic visits are just to top off my cup when it’s running low.
Here area few snaps from Coffee Pot stops over the years.
October 20222 at The Coffee Pot. It still looks beautiful in the autumn morning light, though the signs of aging are starting to accelerate. There is significant peeling starting around the structure.
Passing through on my way back to New York. You can see some eruption is starting on the paint surface here.
The ole pot looking spiffy in its silver coat.
Nary a peel to be seen during this winter visit to Bedford.
The first encounter. It’s been over a decade now since I first made my way out to The Coffee Pot and I’ve loved each visit since.
714 W Pitt St, Bedford, PA 15522