RetroLife

McDonald's revives it's original 50's design

Okay, I'll admit it, I don't really eat at McDonald's. Their food is sketchy and bad for you, and if I'm going to eat food that's sketchy and bad for me, I like taco bell more. Still, the original 50's McDonald's franchise design (below) is probably my favorite fast-food restaurant design ever.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I spotted one in Maine. At first, I thought it was an actual 50's McDonald's that was still standing, but was told by my companion that "It's new, they're just building them like that now." A few months later, I spotted another one in Brooklyn near Coney Island. While I haven't been able to find much press explaining the resurgence of the 50's McDonald's design, they seem to be popping up all over, and I, for one, applaud them. Now if only they'd go back to 100% beef patties for 15 cents...

Ballantines Hotel -- Palm Springs

From their website:

"Unique among Palm Springs Hotels: Ballantines Hotel, the original Palm Springs Hotel in the Ballantines Group and one of the first Palm Springs Hotels to lead the mid-century modernism revival in a bold and colorful style...Ballantines offers a small and intimate boutique hotel with an emphasis on vintage 50's kitsch. Ballantines original is a fun-loving location with 14 rooms all differently themed, private patios, a poolside bar and massage room..."

The Theme rooms include such motifs as "Rebel Studio," "Audrey Hepburn," and "50's Musical." Reservations are required. Features authentic period furniture and in-house 50's and B movies. For more info, visit BallantinesOriginalHotel.com.