Keller's Good Food

Good Food, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Vintage neon restaurant sign, in tiny Genoa City, Wisconsin. I think this building has been remodeled-that flagcrete facade doesn't look as old as the neon. Either way, I'm glad that Keller's has kept their sign intact.

What'll Ya Have?

IMG_0330, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Vintage Pabst Blue Ribbon beer sign. It's hung on the side of a former liquor store or bar (I think it was a restaurant, as it has a drive up window too) in Rochelle, Illinois. It's an antique store now, but this old sign is hanging in there.

Shot with Hipstamatic, with a side trip through the Lo-Mob app for extra texture.

Gold Star Lounge

Gold Star Lounge-Chicago, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The Gold Star Lounge has a long history in Wicker Park. I like this sign a lot, and wish it was in better shape when I saw it-I bet this would look awesome at night.

I've never asked, though, do they still have rooms to let?

Robert's Western World

Robert's Western World, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Aside from the now defunct Gilley's in Texas, Robert's Western World is probably the country's most famous honky tonk. Located along Nashville's famous Broadway (home of all sorts of venues, bars, and restaurants), there's always music playing (often live, even during the daytime) and it's always busy.

Anyway, here's a little bright-and-night show and tell of their excellent sign.

The Big 1

The Big 1, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Originally brewed right here in Chicago by the Peter Hand Brewing Company, Meister Brau was a pretty popular brew in the city and suburbs. Meister Brau also released the first mainstream reduced calorie beer, Meister Brau Lite, which, when Miller took over Peter Hand, became what we now know as Miller Lite.

I don't think I've ever actually had a Meister Brau-I think it had gone out of production by the time I was old enough to buy my own beer. I still have a fondness for it, if only because of their sponsorship of Harry Heuer's sports car racing team back in the sixties. And, Fun Fact! Meister Brau is the favored brew of Cousin Eddie from the Vacation films.

I found this relic in the back of a little bar in downtown Hampshire, Illinois, facing the alley. It looks pretty beat up, and I wonder if it still lights up.

Stop & Drink

Stop & Drink #2, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Happy Neon Friday! This week we're back in Chicago, in front of what's now known as the Clark Street Ale House. It used to be known as the Stop & Drink, and the antique neon sign dates from the days when Clark Street in River North was still a bit rundown and seedy. Fortunately, when the bar was renamed the new owners did the sensible thing and kept the awesome vintage sign.

I'm told that this sign-less the added on ale house bit-can be seen in the somewhat obscure film Mickey One, starring Warren Beatty. Although now that I think of it, maybe it was Goldstein, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's in The Blues Brothers.