"The remarkable thing is that it is the crowded life that is the most easily remembered. A life full of turns, achievements, disappointments, surprises, and crisis is a life full of landmarks. The empty life has even it's few details blurred, and cannot be remembered with certainty."-Eric Hoffer
My pal, and Round Robin teammate, Karen, author of the blog, Outpost Mavarin, chose one of my suggestions for the challenges to play this time around. Cool. Thank you for that Karen. Believe it or not, I had to think and rethink what I want to do for the challenge. I pondered doing some photos of some of the more well known landmarks here in the Bay Area such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower or even Sather Tower located here in Berkeley, on the Berkeley campus. But let's face it, I have photographed those places to death... don't you think? I love the bridge, and it is definitely one of my favorite subjects to photograph, but it has become a bit too comfortable. So, for this challenge I am not posting my usual Bay Area icons, instead I am going to show you a very special landmark, that is all tucked away in the mountains in the South Bay, Alice's Restaurant, located in Woodside, California.
Named after the song, Alice's Restaurant, made famous by Arlo Guthrie, this Alice's Restaurant is a true country diner gem. While it may not be the original restaurant the folk singer sang about, it has an unmistakable charm that has me looking forward to my next visit. As you know, I like taking long drives for special culinary treats, like the amazing apple juice that can only be found at the Apple Farm, in San Luis Obispo, well now that I have visited Alice's, and had their French Fries, I would most certainly take that drive again for their fries. Hot, crispy, and light on the oil. YUM. I don't usually eat fried foods anymore, but this was a neat little treat. It really hit the spot on that cold snowy day, last week.
The building the restaurant is in, was originally built in the early 1900's and served as a general store t0 support the logging industry in the area. What had been called "Four Corners" was then turned into a restaurant. The building was eventually purchased by Alice Taylor, who renamed the restaurant after herself, and the song. The restaurant was sold again in the 1970's and has been family owned ever since. On summer days you can see long lines of bikers, stopping by for one of the fabulous burgers on the menu. I am planning another trip to Woodside, sometime this summer, and you know I will take lots of pictures. :)
You can get a look at the menu at Alice's Restaurant by clicking here. And if you find yourself in the mountains near Woodside, be sure to drop into the landmark restaurant for a yummy meal, and enjoy the great "Oldies" music they have on the radio. :)
Linking List *Welcome New Members!
Carly... Ellipsis
POSTED!
Karen... Outpost Mavarin
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Sandra... Strong Chemistry
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Betty... Biker Betty
Jill... Letting Crazy Take A Spin
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*Martha... Perception
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Lisa... Lisa's Chaos
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Sandy... Myanderings
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*Shorty... I Couldn't Help Myself
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Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
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Nan... Life Is Like A Lunchbox
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*Rachel... Rachel Schell, Spokane Photographer
Janet... Fond Of Snape
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Vicki... Maraca
*Kim... Rainy Day Diamonds
Marie... Photographs And Memories Too
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Chrissea... Chris-seas Corner
Teena... It's all about me!
*Robinella... Robin's Nest
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*Janet... From The Planet Of Janet
Suzanne R... Living... Suzanne R's Life
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Nancy... Nancy Luvs Pixs
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*Pamela... The Dust Will Wait
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Kim... Nekked Lizard Adventures
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Duane... Life, The Universe And Everything
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Gina... Gina's Space
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*Momma... Sandcastle Momma
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*Molly... Return of the White Robin
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Sarah... Charish me
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Be sure to drop by the official Round Robin blog later this weekend, to find out what our next challenge will be! :)
-OndineMonet
"Alice's Restaurant"
Woodside, California
January 22, 2008
Late Afternoon
21 comments:
Looks like a great place, very historic even if it's not really the one in the song, and in that lovely California Arts & Crafts style, looks like. I especially like your shot of the lit exterior, and the intriguing angle on the curtains. Thanks for the great topic!
Love the way you captured the that first exterior picture, just exquisite. The french fry picture made me hungry. Sounds like a really nice place to visit on a easy-going afternoon. This is going to be fun seeing everyone's little corner of the world. What a wonderful idea.
great photos! and i would love to visit. :) btw...they should commission you to advertise! :)
Your photos make me want to go there -- right now! It looks so homey and peaceful.
Martha ~ http://journals.aol.com/lifes2odd/perception/
I love the ketchup bottle behind and to the right of the Indian. Beautiful shots!
This restaurant looks like a very fun place to eat. You captured the total ambiance of it -- great photos!
I love your pictures! We've been fans of Alice's Restaurant for MANY years and it's a tradition of ours to listen to that song every Thanksgiving. My kids can practically quote it word for word and it's not uncommon to hear one of us humming the tune. The thought of those 8x10 color glossies never fails to make me laugh. This restaurant looks gorgeous and if we're ever out that way we'll definitely be stopping by. Now I'm off to make some fries - that picture is very powerful LOL
Oh, how I have fond memories of sitting around singing that song as my brother played the guitar!
I never knew where it truly was. Thanks for a great narrative and lovely photos, Ms. Carly!
xo,
Nance
http://journals.aol.com/nhd106/Nancyluvspix/entries/2008/01/26/landmarks/2143
Carly,
I have entered this challenge that you created, and this is my first entry in the Round Robin Challenge. Thank you for the great idea. I like your entry of Alice's Restaurant and that you have displayed pictures both inside and outside.
I love everything about this restaurant, I can see why you chose this for your entry. It's perfect & looks like a cool place to enjoy dinner or lunch. I like how you shot it in the early evening.
Marie
Awesome pictures! What a fun place! Okay, Bay Area girl... have you been to Val's Burgers in Hayward? It took all my effort to not post my pictures from my last trip to Val's (also during our summer trip home.) I grew up a block from there (parents still live there) and ate there often! If you haven't been... you need to go! We have to eat there every time we go home. At the intersection of Center, B and Kelly. Best burgers in the world. No exaggeration.
I'm going to seek out Alice's when I'm home next Summer!
The fries got me I will take two baskets to go. I love places like that. We do not have many up where we live.
Sarah
Hi Nan
You bet! We have eaten at Val's many times, and if memory serves me right, they have won "Best Burger" in the Daily Review's "Best of The Bay" series many times. Oh my, I know the area you speak of very well. :) I bet we have passed each other many times before, and never knew we would meet one day on the Internet!
Always, Carly
Wonderful pictures! and now I have the soundtrack in my head for my travelling around the blogs this afternoon.
Thank you.
(yum. I love french fries, too. BUT, they make me hiccup.)
As for the restaurant A GREAT CHOICE for a landmark. I have to add that to my TO DO list. #72. EAT at Alice's
just love alice's , if u have a hankering for a great meal n a little longer ride , there is a - or at least there used to be a terrific little restaurant at moss landing called mahoney's , we would stop there every time we got close n had the time while waiting to load at the local produce sheds.
This restaurant would suit me too, not so for the french fries or burgers but it looks so cosy. A place to eat and chat !
Fortunately you mentioned the bridge ! I didn't know that you lived in San Fransisco that indeed would have been your landmark ! I have the same with my Waterloo Lion, I took so many pictures of him and around and the battle field I know it now by heart !
That looks like my kind of place. You make it look so homey and inviting.
Great shot of the restaurant front. The lights inside make it look warm and welcoming.
I would love to come see that Indian and eat some of those fries! Looks like a great atmosphere!
I really enjoyed this challenge, great idea! Thanx!
Dang it! I missed it. I need to put the round Robin inmy blogline line-up. I was out taking pictures of Churchill Downs for the Project 365 last week too...dang it! Would have been a perfecr opportunity to barge my way in there.
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