We were in California visiting Julia, Dan and the kids. Mid-week, while they were working, we took a side trip to the Paso Robles wine area. Walking through town we saw this large flip-flop in front of Kahuna’s Surf store on 12st Street across from City Park.
Paso Robles Flip Flop
On our way to visit Chris and Rick ianchesn Mter, Vermont we passed Creative Custom Woodward in Housick Falls, NY with not only these Big Chairs but probably an acre or two of regular sized Adirondack chairs displayed and ready for sale. We stopped on our way home to grab these photos. A little farther along Rt. 22 there was a farm market where we picked up some sugared donuts and apple cider.
NY Chairs
We were lucky enough to spend a day with Willa and decided to visit the Crayola Experience in Easton, PA. Well, first we found what must be the World’s Largest Crayon so naturally Willa and I had to have our photo taken by the Chief Photographer. Shortly after we found another Big Crayon and gave Willa her first solo Big Thing photo. Who knows maybe the Big Thing bug may bite her. This not the first time she’s been in a Big Thing photo, but the first solo shot. I think she did pretty good. She even had a matching outfit!
Crayola
We arrived in Corning, NY planning to go to the Corning Glass Museum but wanted to grab some lunch first. Had a good meal at Market Street Brewing Company, sitting outside in great weather. Before the museum visit we stopped at the Corning, Corelle & More shop around the corner on Pine Street to get a few replacement items. When, WOW! here was this measuring cup. And not just any big measuring cup, but a Guinness Book Certified World’s Largest Measuring Cup. What a find!
World’s Largest Measuring Cup
Stopped by Booth Electric Supply in Elmira, NY to grab this big business symbol at the corner of E 2nd St and Hwy 14 (Clements Center Parkway.) I noticed a couple of guys in the building looking to see what we were doing. I stopped by to introduce myself and give them a business card. They said they have a good number of people stopping to get their photo taken. They gave me a pen and wished me well in my search for other Big Things. Thanks guys!
Big Electric Plug
The Chief Photographer and I were spending a few days at her sister’s vacation cabin on the Juniata River near Thompsontown, PA. Sunday afternoon we drove into Millersburg where our brother-in-law Tony spent his early years. We visited the local landmarks, saw Tony’s childhood home and had lunch at Max’s Grille downtown. While in town we visited the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art. Ned was an artist specializing in forest animals. On the way to the Center we spotted this homage to the St. Louis Cardinals on State St near Rising Sun Road. Just had to get this image.
Big Cardinals Fan
We were heading cross country in Florida on our way to meet up with some PA neighbors that spend 4 or 5 months down south to avoid our winter weather. Driving along the US-441 in Mount Dora I spotted this billboard held up by a Big Pencil. I made a quick U-turn and pulled into the parking lot of Charlie Johnson’s Building office. As we were walking up we met Carl Ludecke, the VP and son-in-law of Charlie. He was a wealth of information about the billboard: erected in 1987 for about $30,000, grandfathered in and now worth a whole lot more. Income from the sign is “Better that Social Security!”
Charlie Johnson’s Pencil
We were in Lititz, PA to take in the “Fire and Ice Festival” which is an annual event. Most of the businesses in town commission an ice sculpture reflecting their business. It’s nice to walk through town and see the sculptures. Unfortunately we were there on Monday, the last day and temperatures were high enough to cause some melting. We spotted these big knitting needles in front of a yarn store named “Ewebiquitous.”
Fire and Ice Festival
On our way to Boyertown, PA to visit a gift shop for a little Christmas shopping and we spotted this Big Boot. I thought it was a permanent Big Boot but as we got closer it turned out to be an inflatable. A little disappointed but it was one of the better inflatables I’ve seen. We didn’t stop to see Santa but we did discover the Jukebox Restaurant in Boyertown. 7 kinds of soup (I had Crab Bisque,) great place, we need to go back.
Boyertown Boot
While in Los Angeles, Julia and Dan took us to The Broad, a contemporary arts museum featuring the collection of Eli and Edythe Broad which opened in 2015. There are two floors of gallery space showcasing some of the 2,000 works of art in the Broad collection of post war and contemporary art. Best part is the admission is free. You can plan ahead and get dated, timed tickets or wait in line for same day tickets as they are available. Once inside I turned a corner and wow, a Big Thing. This is art that I can really enjoy.
Big Table at “The Broad”
While in Reading, PA we were excited to attend the 1st Annual PretzelFest. It took place in First Energy Stadium where the Phillies AA team plays. I was at a Fightin Phils game earlier in the year. This area of Pennsylvania is home to a great number of pretzel and snack companies, some large and some small. This was an opportunity to learn about some of the smaller vendors. Of course, what would a PretzelFest be without beer and there were a number of local micro-breweries in attendance as well. We found these dog near the front entrance of the ballpark.
PretzelFest Dog Tags
We were looking for a place to eat and ran across a shopping center in Middletown, DE that looked like it would have a restaurant or two so we pulled in. While driving through the center we spotted this inflatable mattress. However, we didn’t find a place to eat.
Big Mattress
I’ve never experienced such a concentration of Big Things in an area. The area from Nags Head to Kitty Hawk is for some reason just loaded with Big Chairs. I would like to meet the salesperson that was able to sell so many chairs in such a small area. This collage is only 6 of the 10 chairs that I found. For all I know there were more that I didn’t find.
Outer Bank Chairs
As we traveled north from Myrtle Beach we spotted this Big Bell on the property of the Bell & Bell Buick-GMC dealer. We stopped and had to drive through a field full of GMC pickup trucks to reach this Big Bell. As you can see, it was worth the effort.
Myrtle Beach Bell
This is billed as the “World’s Largest Fire Hydrant.” I don’t know if that is true but is certainly dog gone big. This is also in Columbia quite near downtown.
Big Fire Hydrant
Well, we got to Columbia, SC to view the Total Solar Eclipse on Monday August 21st. While walking along Main Street on Sunday while it was closed off to become a pedestrian mall and art fair we found the Neverbust Chain which I knew about from Roadside America. My apprentice, Willa, allowed me to include her in this photo.
Columbia Chain
After visiting Glen’s Transmission shop we stopped down the road at Northwest True Value Hardware that had this Big Frying Pan on the wall. Glen told me is was also on the list of items of interest in Roanoke. We planned to stop by and with Glen’s endorsement we were not disappointed.
True Value Frying Pan
On the way to the Transformer Man we saw the Coffee Pot building and decided to catch it on the way back. It currently serves as an artist studio with many water sculptures in front. We didn’t have time to go inside but it looks like a great place to visit if you have the time. It’s on East Midland Trail in Lexington, Virginia.
Coffee Pot Art Building
On our way to view the eclipse in Columbia, SC we stopped at Freedom Memorial Park in Strasburg, VA to get this Big Cross. I have a couple other crosses, one in Indian River, MI and one in Effingham, IL. This was a triple cross with the tallest measured at 150 feet.
Big Cross
While we were at Poconos Raceway for time trials we got in a little shopping. One vendor had a selection of hats with this attention getting display rack. I borrowed a cap for this image. Notice the Jimmie Johnson shirt I am wearing. Go 48 car!
Poconos NASCAR Cap