Category Archives: random foto

October 6, 2009 · 12:05 am

Chinatown San Francisco

We didn’t hit up Empress of China or the especially intriguing Floating Sushi Boat Restaurant (see below pics) spotted in San Francisco’s Chinatown last night, but we did go a little nuts with the family-style at Oriental Pearl. I loved the prawns in candied almonds and orange rinds, and the chicken in a crispy potato nest (literally), but my favorite shots of the night emerged on the walk over.

Floating sushi boat?

Hopelessly drawn to strings of lights

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Filed under ..and more, eliz-a-trip, random foto, random spottings

July 27, 2009 · 12:05 am

Chicago Antique Market

Just a few retro foodie shots captured at the Chicago Antique Market this weekend. Held once a month on Randolph and Ogden in the West Loop, the market returns August 29-30 and Sept. 26-27, and if you’ve never been, it’s more than worth the $10 entry fee. We spotted everything from great mirrors, to cookbooks, furniture, jewelry, artwork and memory-inducing retro glassware.

I am not sure who designed these retro vegetable jars, but I swear my parents had the full set of jars and glasses.

Do these vegetables looked stoned? Either way I love these jars, and I swear my parents had the full set of glasses

Is it me or do these vegetables looked stoned?

More great teapots, bowls, etc.

More retro pots, teapots, bowls and more

Orange overload

One vendor had an awesome selection of vintage cookbooks.

Vintage cookbooks

These thick A & W mugs brought back serious memories of pigging on hamburgers, fries and root beef floats in the comfort of my parent’s station wagon. I know there’s an A & W still lurking in Racine, and I think a trip up there for a float (or at least the root beer suckers) is on the horizon.

Must-have mugs

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Filed under ..and more, family foods, great for date, random foto, random spottings

July 24, 2009 · 12:05 am

Random photo Friday: Gonnella

Along with the Blommer’s chocolate scent that randomly wafts from their Kinzie street factory, I love the smell of fresh-baked bread that emanates from Gonnella Baking Facility when I’m heading down Chicago Avenue around 5PM in the evenings. The 120-year-old bread company has a rich history, and if you check out the Web site, I like how they recognize employees that have been working there for as long as 20, 30 and even 40 years. I caught this shot just off Milwaukee Avenue at sundown. 1001 W. Chicago Avenue

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July 22, 2009 · 12:05 am

Vintage food ads at West Fest

A file of old food ads at West Fest

I was wandering around West Fest on Chicago Avenue a few weeks ago and noticed a particularly cool vendor with a ton of great antique knick-knacks and vintage posters, portraits and ads labeled by genre, style, sport, era, etc. Arranged like a comprehensive record collection of mainstream brands from my youth, I loved this box of vintage food and drink ads.

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March 13, 2009 · 12:06 am