Not so Modern Hotel Rooms: Southern Oregon

So the last of my Southern Oregon Adventures were this past week. Here I thought I'd show the crazy range of places that I stayed in southern Oregon. The first is on the Oregon coast in a town called Bandon. The room was super small but check out the sweet view! I have to say that I was not so keen on the nautical theme (no rhyme intended) but the skylight was perfect in the middle of the night - the stars and moon were gleaming through. The other bit I loved about this room at the Sea Star Guesthouse was the location - right around the corner from the Alloro Wine Bar also in Old Town Bandon - I had duck with a cherry sauce on top and grilled endive plus sauteed chanterelle mushrooms - so delish!

Next up on my Southern Oregon tour was Ashland - well known for their Shakespeare Festival this little gathering of cottages called The Palm was a welcome respite in the long line of hotel rooms. This place should be in Sunset Magazine if it hasn't been already. I guess they had just re-decorated my room which was cute and had a nice mix of retro and 50's style but with a more contemporary (circa late 90's) flare.   

The price was right at both stop overs for $69.00. Of course they were now charging their off-season rates but either way it was a great deal and much more homey than any Best Western or any similarly cloned chain hotel. SO I'm still in pursuit of that perfectly modern hotel in Oregon but the Palm does have some nice MCM touches in other units.

Mid-century Modern Toys: Trading Cards!

I should have known. There are trading cards for anything! Including ones that are space aged themed for the mid-century spaced-obsessed Bobby and Marsha. Are there mid-century modern furniture trading cards? I would certainly stock up. The cool cards in these pics are part of the San Fran Airport's  (SFO) series of art in the airports.  Click here and here for other toy pics from the same showing. SFO . . . UFO . . . coincidence? I think not! Click on the pictures to get a closer view and read the text of the "Sputnik 1" Space card. These cards not only have great art but they are educational too! I also love how they are self-referencing "See Card no. 2 - Dog In Space". You can by scanning the pic to the right and card no. 2 is there for your reading enjoyment. I think I most love the two cards below though - "Enjoying Earthshine" and "It's easy - on the moon." I'm going to use that line around here when I have to vacuum - "Augh! It would be so much easier if I were on the moon. Mr. Monkey, can we move already?"

Mid-century Modern Toys: Atomic!

I fly through SFO quite a bit because in Eugene you can rarely fly direct anywhere - you must first travel through SFO or LAX or Seattle or Portland or Denver. I do like SFO though because they by far have the best art installations. Right now all you toy collector's would go nutzo. All the toys on display had themes of the space age. They capture that mid-century modern fascination with all things intergalactic  and space-tacular! Hope you enjoy these tidbits. Because I had just newly experienced the D.C. Dulles airport for the first time - I have to say that the "Lost in Space" people mover is exactly like the mobile "lounge rooms" of Dulles (IAD). 

You can see all the space trading cards in person until March 2009 so you will have plenty of time to check it out. You can find it at Terminal 3 of SFO. Oh man, I wish I could have an orbital food container (click on the pictures to read the funny tag lines of the lunch boxes and games). Enjoy the space invasion!

Mid-century Art in the Airport: SFO

 
I guess it was Sunday evening and I was traveling home from the east coast. And In the United wing of SFO they usually have great little art installments. Well this time in particular it was right up the alley of my latest obsession: mid-century and it's fascination with all things space and atomic. I did manage to sneak a few shots that I will post later but here's a sampling from the SFO website. Totally atomic!