I’ve added some new signs in the course of reorganizing how I present them. I’ve mostly separated Chicagoland signs from the rest of the world and I’ve reorganized most of Western Avenue Art Gallery signs into geographical pages rather than thematic. This makes it far more likely that I’ll get signs posted, since it makes them much easier to post. Check out the four new groups: Western Avenue Clark Street Pilsen Varieties
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The 47th Street Art Show
47th Street is one of Chicago’s great signage thoroughfares. Here are some recent finds.
Continue readingMore pictures
More new or upgraded pictures from some favorite locations:
Continue readingFresh look at classic gyros
New pictures of the great — now destroyed — gyros signs from Hellas Gyros on Bryn Mawr, “Home of the Gyros.”
Continue readingXmas Gift of the Year
This great embroidery is by Anne Weitze.
Continue readingNew Vernacular Signs
More vernacular signs from Chicago’s North Side. This great work is all part of the Western Avenue and Vicinity Art Gallery.
Continue readingNew St. Eom Drawings
A pair of fashion sketches by Eddie Owens Martin are now included on the St. Eom Pasaquan page.
Continue readingStuff for sale
I’m starting to raid my accumulation of vintage junk for sale on ebay. First up are three Tomy Robo Strux wind-up robots. If all goes well, I’ll follow up with old monster magazines, comic books and more toys. If all goes really well, I’ll dip into the dozens of pulp novels I acquired years ago in Owensboro, Kentucky. The big question is whether I’ll find it worthwhile to handle the packing and shipping.
Continue readingAvenue Vernacular
Some great handmade signs and other sights from one of Chicago’s main ethnic strips.
Continue readingNew Weird Store Names
Just added some great names to the Grog N Groc Hall of Fame: Hotel Mr. Bed City, Paris (me) Wok N Go – “It’s only Wok N Go, but I like it,” Lexington, Ky (Karl Lawrence) The Best Way Inn Motel, Carbondale, Ilinois (rl Lawrence) Holy Sheet! Housewares, Paramatta, NSW, Australia (Aaron T. Slater) King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut (Glasgow, Scotland ) K.L. Cox Thai Me Up, San Francisco (Sandra Madrid) Crafty Beaver hardware store, Chicago (Sandra Madrid) Richard Heads bar, Houston (Sandra Madrid) Fluke Transport & Warehousing, Hamilton, Ontario, “If it arrives on time, it’s a Fluke” (Susan Galbraith)
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