http://www.swankpad.org/blather If it's Swank... Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:37:27 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I have been to Cancun many times. I considered it my favorite vacation spot. I worked hard to get Stephanie to make it our honeymoon spot. I had not been there in 8-10 years. Unfortunately, Cancun is greatly changed. So many of the things I thought I knew have become wrong. It used ... http://www.swankpad.org/blather/2009/06/04/cancun-is-in-ruins/ Pia has wanted an updated site since the day I met her in 2003. It's finally here. It is so nice! I hope it brings even more people into the happiest place on earth! Thanks Bill fo rmaking it happen! Mai Kai - The Best http://www.swankpad.org/blather/2009/04/08/new-mai-kai-website/ We had the pleasure of visiting with the owners of the Robert Daniel house here in Knoxville. The house was designed and built by James Fitzgibbon in 1950. I won't bore you too much with words. The house is incredible. The owners say they regulalrly find architects at their door dropping ... http://www.swankpad.org/blather/2009/03/29/robert-daniel-house-by-fitzgibbon-in-knoxville/ You'd think that after searching for 6 years for all things Mai Kai I would have seen every postcard there was. No. This one appeared on Ebay a few weeks ago. More things to try to find! http://www.swankpad.org/blather/2009/02/21/another-new-mai-kai-postcard-found/ I got a request for this, so I am putting it out there again. I have not listened to this in maybe 6 years, so, no guess about the sound quality. Download here http://www.swankpad.org/blather/2009/02/09/adomono-a-night-at-the-beachcomber/ I don't often post links to blogs on my blog, but, after this wasn't posted on any other major blogs, I felt I owed it to all of you to share what may be one of the singularly best posts in all the freaky world. It made me weep. I have ... http://www.swankpad.org/blather/2009/01/06/an-old-testament-chrsitmas/ I've always loved this mug. Such a nice sentiment to have "Goddess of Love" tattooed across the top of a skull mug. A wonderful image for a drink. The Hawaii Kai is a legendary tiki bar from New York, best known as the location of Joe Pesci's famous "Do I ... http://www.swankpad.org/blather/2008/11/08/hawaii-kai-goddess-of-love-skull-mug/ This little station was in a movie filmed in Knoxville. Anyone recall what movie? October Sky or Box of Moonlight? In the movie, I recall there were like 20 Highway direction signs in front of it. Great vinatge lines. A phone? I forgot to see if it had a dial tone. These lights must ... http://www.swankpad.org/blather/2008/11/06/service-station-asheville-hwy/ Looks liek a very Deco design on this sign on Central. http://www.swankpad.org/blather/2008/11/05/home-investment-building-1400-central-ave/ I think this sign is still doing it's groovy flashing thing at night. I need to go get some movies of the good stuff soon. http://www.swankpad.org/blather/2008/11/03/c-and-s-cleaners-central/ Another card to add to the original post and now website of Mai Kai postcards. This is the famous large Barney West at the south end of the Mai Kai. It stands there to this day. But today the highway has encroached to the point that this guy is right on ... http://www.swankpad.org/blather/2008/11/01/mai-kai-postcards-another-one-found/ Okay, is it Terminal Garage Inc. or Service Auto Parts, or what? 24 Hour Service and AAA for sure. On Central near the Bell South Building. http://www.swankpad.org/blather/2008/11/01/terminal-service-auto-central/ Lusk Body Co. refurbished their sign I think. Great sign regardless. Happy Hollow, well, holler, is an infamous area of Knoxville and is rapidly gentrifying. I am trying to document some of it's "glory" before it is gone. http://www.swankpad.org/blather/2008/10/30/lusk-body-co-off-central/ Star Sales has just all kinds of stuff. But the sign is an icon. You can see the neon of this sign from all over Knoxville. There are concentric neon stars that make the star "grow". Love it! http://www.swankpad.org/blather/2008/10/29/star-sales-central/ Hillbilly Pride!Don't be using the "H" word unless you are from the Hills. I got the pride. http://www.swankpad.org/blather/2008/10/28/chicken-city-hillbilly-pride-central/