A Trailer Park in New York?

, Hey,check out http://www.flickr.com/photos/55921576@N00/3377601968/
and http://www.flickr.com/photos/36347533@N05/3496672933/
to see the newest work from Roadhouse Relics.
It is a bar in New York City called Trailer Park Bar and Grill. Their website is trailerparklounge.com

The marquee sign is 2 sided, with a change copy reader board.
The other sign is approx. 10' wide and is 1 sided.
The Bar is located in the Chelsea district, and is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.
Meet your next ex wife at the trailer park!

Vintage neon is IN!

These days, magazines are having a real challenge in trying to stand
apart from the crowd. It seems like it has all been done, but there is a solution.
Many savvy designers are utilizing a best kept secret in advertising.
Vintage Neon Signs, made to order!
There is a company that specializes in creating custom 1950's era neon signs from scratch, and even weathers them to perfection.
The Company is called Roadhouse Relics, owned by Todd Sanders.
Roadhouse Relics was begun in 1996, dedicated to celebrating American Pop Culture. Many Movies and T.V. commercials have taken advantage of their talents, and now print media designers have caught on.
Basically, if you can imagine it, Roadhouse Relics can make it!
In the past year, Roadhouse Relics has made custom, vintage style neon signs for several magazines and print ads. The magazines include Esquire, Los Angeles magazine, Texas Monthly and Paste.
Did these projects create a splash? Well, the critics have spoken and they have won a few awards. The June '08 Texas Monthly magazine won the American Society of Magazine Editors Service Cover of the year!
Visit http://www.texasmonthly.com/2008-06-01/feature.php
Los Angeles magazine also won the year's best inside cover.
Roadhouse Relics also created an awesome Neon Marquee for an L G Phone print ad.
You can see it in many magazines in October '09 issues.
Texas Monthly has hired Roadhouse Relics again! If you view the Oct. '09 issue, you will see a custom vintage neon sign on pg. 148 in an editorial. It's a funny sign that reads 'WEED'.
It is a tongue in cheek take on an old Motel sign, except that where it is supposed to say NO VACANCY, it says ILLEGAL. I bet that it will win an award or two.
The fun thing about nostalgic neon signs is that they will never go out of style, because they are timeless.
To view more examples of Roadhouse Relics amazing work, go to roadhouserelics.com.

Elvis in Paris 1959 GARAGE SALE GOLD

I've been a collector of odd things and antiques since I was little. This is probably part of why I make art that looks like antique found objects. I love cool old stuff, and always have.
Many days have been spent driving to some far away place with my Wife or Dad to look for that one special item that is fun to own and makes a great story. Years pass between the really special finds, no matter how hard I search.
I had an experience last weekend that made up for many long roads that led nowhere (antique wise anyway).
My wife Sarah and I went to the CITY WIDE GARAGE SALE, here in Austin. She's been the one who has been finding the treasures lately. She found a Johnny Cash Sun Record for $12 in Luling, Tx. about 2 months ago. About halfway through the sale, She pointed out this great looking postcard with an illustration of a dancer on it. The postcard read' LIDO PARIS'. I instantly admired it, I LOVE pinup girls, and this was a great one, so I picked it up and gave it a closer look.
The back wasn't filled out, but it did have a signature on it. After a closer inspection I was finally able to make out the signature.
ELVIS PRESLEY
Although I was taken aback, I was skeptical.
It looked like his handwriting, but was Elvis ever in Paris?
I know that Col. Tom would not let him tour oversees. Then I thought, 'Oh Yeah,
He was in Germany in the Army! He may have gone over to Paris on leave.
But this postcard was only $10, how can it be real?
I actually put it down and walked away, which sometimes can be a big mistake. Before I went one more aisle, I told Sarah "I have to go back and get it, even if its not real, it's a great image."
So I went back.
There were 2 people looking at it, and a few other things right by it.
My heart was in my neck.
After an eternity, they walked on ,and I picked it up. I asked the Lady where she got the postcard and she joked "The last time I was in Paris!" Then she said "no, it was just in a box of stuff I bought. Isn't it a great postcard? I don't know who the lady on the front is, but she signed the back. I just can't read her writing."
I smiled and gave her the $10 and walked away..
I felt compelled to go back and tell her it was Elvis' signature and not the lady on the front. I felt kinda bad that I didn't tell her, so I decided to give it to Elvis Presley's #1 fan of all time, My Mom.
On a side note, I was 10 when my friend next door came over to where I was playing in the yard and said " Did you hear that Elvis Died today?" The first thing that I thought was, "Oh no, I wonder if Momma knows." I ran in the house and saw her curled up in a ball on the chair, sobbing uncontrollably.
Yep, She knows.
She was touched that I wanted her to have it.

Anyway, I did some research, and here it is.

I found this on elvispresleynews.com

Elvis In Paris - June 1959 -June 21, 1959 - Elvis, Charlie Hodge, Lamar Fike and Rex Mansfield flew a chartered plane to Paris. The gang went to the Lido nightclub and upon spotting Elvis called him to the stage where he played an impromptu piano version of "Willow Weep for Me" The boys visited the Lourve, the Eiffel Tower and stayed in the hotel de Galles. At nights they frequented the Folies-Bergere, the Moulin Rouge & 4 O'clock Club where they conned the entire cast back to their hotel. The 10 day trip cost $10,000 which Elvis paid in full

I don't know what it is worth, it doesn't matter. It will never leave my family, but it is exciting to find something like this in a garage sale.

This is a great example that great finds are still out there, you just have to get out there and dig.

Even if you don't find anything, looking for antiques with people that you love is always time well spent.

The long, hot ,Neon Summer

I recently completed a custom neon sign for ZZ TOP'S Billy Gibbons.
It is a replica of an actual sign that is here in Austin,a place called The Horseshoe Lounge.
It has all of the signature details of a Roadhouse Relics piece. Custom made,hand painted and weathered.

The coolest part is, it is made in miniature(see the pencil?)

The Summer has been a busy time. I've had a lot of fun projects lately.
I sent a custom neon sign reading 'EAT' to DIY network's new show,
Garage Mahal featuring Guy Fieri from diners drive ins and dives.

Man Vs. Food T.V. show also rented 3 pieces of neon art for their upcoming season.


Did you know that Roadhouse Relics is available as a photo shoot location?
Many folks love using the neon boneyard behind the gallery as a backdrop for wedding photos, music videos, etc.
The Avett Brothers were here during SXSW to be included in their Paste Magazine spread(photos by Jeff Fasano).
Anthropologie also chose Roadhouse Relics as a photo location for their June '09 catalog.
Mercury Charlie brought his own incredible work of art,Sweet Nadine, a 1951 Mercury that has been radically customized and took some amazing pic's among the delicious red Austin Neon sign.

Other recent projects
I custom made a Big Tex Cowboy,reminiscent of the one in the Dallas State Fair for a loft owned by Alex Gillespie and Sue Bornstein.
Shepard Fairey's OBEY Clothing is also a proud new owner of my neon pieces.
Keep a look out in October for a LG phone magazine ad, featuring a custom designed/ fabricated neon Theater marquee reading GRAND ROYALE.
I'm looking forward to many more great clients and exciting projects in the upcoming Months.

Neon New Orleans 2009

Yesterday my wife and I returned from a 4 day trip to New Orleans, Louisiana. It was her first trip. I've been several times, but not since Hurricane Katrina.
The old city was very much the same, and in a way, I'll never see it as it once was ever again.
The old girl is having a rough time, with many old familiar places now closed or going out of business. Although many sights saddened me,I want to talk about what is still great about New Orleans, and its wonderful people.
We arrived on Thursday afternoon and checked in to the Monteleone Hotel, standing at the foot of the majestic Rue Royal Street. Although the Monteleone was created in 1886, the section we stayed in was built in 1903, I believe.
After a brief rest we wandered out in to the worn cobblestone streets and began exploring the old haunts that once were visited by the likes of Mark Twain, William Faulkner, Jean Lafitte and Jim Bowie, as well as other Saints and Sinners.
Our first stop was the Absinthe House(not to be confused with the Old Absinthe Bar, which I've always loved but is now gone forever) Where Sarah and I both had the signature drink of the Quarter, the Hurricane. One is plenty, and two is about three too many!
We walked Rue Canal for awhile and went to bed.
Friday, We had another signature experience found only in New Orleans, Beignet's at Cafe Du Monde. Although it is a MUST DO while visiting the city, I think it is overrated (give me a Shipley's do-nut any day).
We wandered the French Market, the old Jax Beer Brewery and visited some great sights, including the WAX Museum. I had a great Irish Coffee at Molly's at the Market Bar.
New Orleans is known for excellent food, and we did our best to experience the best the town had to offer. Here are a few spots that I absolutely loved and highly recommend. Felix's Seafood, Johnny's Po Boys (only open 'til 4 P.M.). Irene's Place, Court of Two Sisters, and Nacho Mama's on Magazine St.
The real reason I've gotten off of my butt and doing my first blog in over a year are to write about some kindred spirits we met and wanted to share. On Saturday, We went down Magazine Street to do some shopping. As we were driving, Sarah noticed a sign shop which made my mouth water. It is called Mystic Blue Signs, 2212 Magazine St. This wonderland of curiosities is operated by Yvette Rutledge and Vince Mitchell.
I couldn't believe our luck! The work was absolutely stunning, and they couldn't have been more welcoming.
The other serendipitous meeting was at a place recommended by Yvette called Sputnik Ranch, They are Gary and Debra Parky. These guys are super cool, and so is their shop. There are many places that have been forced to close since Katrina, but this is a success story. Sputnik ranch was created after the flood in a spot that became available because a C.D. shop decided to hang it up after the flood wiped out their inventory. From Manuel/Nudie suits to vintage bicycles to great artwork by Tim Biskup, Nina Friday, And L.S. Williams, they have an amazing eye for the coolest stuff. I wanted to take it all home. Sarah did buy a framed print called Rock N Roll Angel by Mitch O'Connell, which she absolutely loves.
These guys have a band called The SophistiCats, you should check them out. We listened to a C.D. that they gave us as we were leaving NOLA, awesome music. They would do well at the Continental Club in Austin, Tx.
One sad note about New Orleans is the antique neon signs that vanished after the storm. Some were saved and went to collections, some simply disappeared and will never be found. I know it is hard to believe, but it is true.
Some of my favorite signs are no longer there including the Sugar Bowl Courts, Red Goose Shoes, Picadilly, and The Civic, but many have survived. My favorite survivors are Half Moon, Monteleone Hotel, The Pearl, Walgreen's on Canal, and Tujague's.
New Orleans is one of the only cities that has its own neon style. I can see a photo of a neon sign and can tell that it is from New Orleans. Chicago is the other city with its own neon style. Oddly, the 2 cities are very much the same style. Both have an opulent flavor that stops me in my tracks. It would be a dream come true to be a part of the design and fabrication of new "vintage" neon signs to decorate New Orleans.
Saturday night we went back to Canal and watched a parade for a few hours. We made more friends, including a great guy called "Charlie Two Shoes". Charlie holds court along Canal and Royal, and is Sarah's new best friend.
Sunday Morning came too soon. We packed up our gear, had one last Beignet and coffee, and headed West.
We'll be back very soon, and in the meantime New Orleans will surely be missed.

ROAD TRIP Austin to Tacoma

I recently retuned from a round trip to Tacoma to deliver 11 neon signs and 2 three dimensional neon/ metal margarita glasses that were 6' tall. They were purchased by a client that has been a great customer for a few years now, THE RAM/ Big Horn Brewing Co.
The total trip was just under 5000 miles. We made it there and back in 7 days of hard running. My father Richard Sanders went with me, so I'm lucky that I didn't have to drive it myself, and it was good company.

DAY 1- Loaded UHAUL truck Thur.7/20 and left 6 a.m. Fri. Morning with my fiancee Sarah still sleeping. Made it to Limon,Colo. by 12 a.m.
875 Miles. Went through Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado.

DAY 2- Left Limon at 6 a.m. looking for a good Mom/Pop cafe in Denver to have breakfast. Couldn't find one on the old highway. Stopped at one of the last WAFFLE HOUSES we would see on the entire trip. I love Waffle House, they have become a staple of my road trip experience since my childhood. I once spent 2 days at a motel in Chattanooga Tenn.eating nothing but Waffle House for breakfast, lunch and supper.
When you walk in to one, everyone behind the counter says hello, it's a welcome gesture when you're far from home.
We saw many old cars and some cool neon signs until Laramie, Wy, where all things cool dropped out of sight for the entire state of Wyoming.The one great event was picking up a unique bluegrass/ blues station on the radio. If you've never listened to a guy named Jerry Douglas, treat yourself to one of his albums. Saw a widfire on a mountain in Snowville, Utah. Ogden, Utah was the prettiest part of this stretch. My friend Wayne" the train" Hancock called me on my cell and said that he was in Wyoming that day too. He was heading to Jackson Hole to play a gig.Check him out at waynehancock.com, he's the best musician I've ever heard, and we've been friends for 17 years. As friends go,they don't get any better. Stopped for dinner in Twin Falls, Idaho. We saw the snake river canyon, where Evel Kneivel tried to jump it in the early 70's. We were really tired, but when we tried to get a motel room we found out that the entire town was full because of the brave firefighters trying to put out the blaze in Snowville that we had passed earlier that day.We drove on through until 10 p.m. to Bliss,Idaho and found a great old motel for $49.Good people.

DAY 3-Up at 6:30 a.m. and headed for Boise Idaho. We tried the same trick of getting off of the interstate and onto the old highway to find breakfast and this time we struck pure gold on State St. (old 44)just West of Boise. Merrit's Scone Shack. Best damn breakfast in living memory. The entire cafe was full of the nicest people you could ever meet. The breakfast was great, and the scones were HUGE! A girl sitting by us ordered pancakes, and I swear they were the size of a large pizza. Drove 44 W. to the Oregon border. Absolutely beautiful country.Old cars, hundreds of old trucks, and dozens of cool vintage travel trailers dotted the landscape.Crossed into Oregon at 10 a.m. with full bellies and a new lease on life. I took some great snapshots of old neon signs for my collection, which now numbers more than 3000 photos. Baker City Oregon was a tiny jewell, nestled in the foothills along the Old Oregon Trail.An absolutely stunning treat to experience.There is a sign painter in Baker City that would do very well in Austin.As the vinyl sign companies grow throughout the country,the old towns are losing their local charm, but it was alive and well in this oasis. I wish i had gotten his name, but we rolled on through. We hit Pendleton at around 1 p.m.LET 'ER BUCK! after coming off of Blue Mountain (6% grade) One of the must see's on the trip was the Yakima Valley Museum, which houses many restored neon signs from Yakima Wahington's heyday. It was beautiful to see the old signs, which were expertly refurbished to their former glory.The lady at the front desk was so happy to see a fellow neon afficianado that she drew us a map of the city so that we could see the neon signs that were still on the streets, some of which will be restored and placed in this amazing museum soon. Finally made it to Tacoma that night after the most grueling harrowing hour of my entire driving history.If you want to know what real pressure feels like, drive a UHAUL truck with a cargo of fragile neon signs, while pulling another car behind you down the 80 mile stretch of the Snowqualmie Mountain Pass on a Sunday evening with the local folks going 85 m.p.h. to get home after their weekend getaway. Oh yeah, it was raining like hell. I was so glad to see Tacoma. The steering wheel actually showed where my fingers gripped it.
After a seafood dinner we passed out at a Motel 6, ready to deliver the shipment the next morning.

DAY 4-Got up at 6 a.m. to arrange for the delivery. Had a great breakfast at a late 60's era cafe called "THE LUCKY DUCK". After our delivery, we left our happy customers and Washington State behind us. We dropped off the UHAUL and drove the car we had pulled for 2500 miles.We decided to go home through California, Arizona and New Mexico.Things were pretty uneventful for most of Oregon and California. We were doing 16 hour shifts of driving and averaging 850 miles per day, which is gettin' it.
We passed out every night and got up at 6 a.m. to go again.

DAY 5-Although we had been on old ROUTE 66 many times, we had some great experiences on this trip. Barstow was truly amazing.We had lunch at the Palm Cafe. Chinese/ American food that was excellent.I gave a postcard that I bought in Baker City, Oregon to the mailman to mail for me. As I drove off, he was reading it with great interest. We hit I 40 like men possessed, stopping only temporarily in Kingman, Arizona to eat lunch at a place called the Lumberjack on Andy Devine St. We tried to make it to Seligman to the famous "Delgadillo's Snow Cap" stand for supper, but as we pulled in to the drive, they were pulling away. I was sad to see that they weren't open, but fate had better things in mind for us.An amazing thing happened in Williams, Arizona. Something that only happens a few times in a lifetime.As we pulled into Williams, the sun had just set, and both sides of the main street were lit up with the most awesome old neon signs we had ever seen. Cocktail glasses,figural bulls with "steak house" written on them and many more unique signs greeted us like old friends. It would have been a breathtaking array of neon if we had showed up at high noon, but we rolled into town at the perfect moment,just before dark, and it was magical. It reaffirmed my passion for vintage neon signs, and reminded me why I do what I do. I create vintage style signs so that other people can have this experience too.After a great meal at the only antique Dairy Queen I've ever seen,we pointed the headlights toward Winslow.

DAY 6-We made it out of the room and on the road by 5:30 a.m.We ate breakfast in the car, only stopping for gas.Had a great lunch at Fred's Place in Ft. Sumner, New Mexico.Fred's was started by a Korean war veteran and his wife. The food, service and people were great. There was a wooden bar along one wall that was built in the 1800's. Legend has it the BILLY THE KID had bellied up to it sometime before lawman Pat Garret gunned him down.After Clovis, New Mexico, we made it for the Texas line. Crossed it at 1:45 and I immediately relaxed. We were still far from home, but we were in Texas! Lubbock, then Lamesa( home of the "Pavarotti of the plains" Don Walser).The Sky Vu drive in theater was still playing current movies.After Big Spring, We stopped for the last night of the trip in San Angelo. We had hoped to make it in time for one of the best steaks in Texas at Zintner's Daughter Restaurant, but we were too late, so we settled for a bucket of chicken in the room.

DAY 7-At 6 a.m.(again) we headed for my town AUSTIN. Brady Texas is one of my favorite places, we had breakfast at the El Flamingo Cafe. After all that we had seen I didn't expect to see much between Brady and Austin, but I was wrong.On the edge of the old business district was an antique gas station crammed to the gills with old toys, classic cars and antique motorcycles.Owner Ken Young wasn't there, but we left him a note telling him it was one of the highlights of our trip. After Brady was Llano, where my dad and I had restored the old movie theater sign and marquee some years back. It still glows like a jewell.
We made it back to Austin at 10 a.m. We had logged nearly 5000 miles in 7 days.
It was a great trip, but I've never been happier to see home.

THE VINTAGE MAN

The Vintage Man

The difference between a good artist and a great one
is
The novice will often lay down his tool
Or brush
Then pick up an invisible club
On the mind's table
And helplessly smash the easels and
Jade.
Whereas the vintage man
No longer hurts himself or anyone
And keeps on
Sculpting
Light.

By HAFIZ
1367 A.D.
This poem was written 600 years before I was born, and while i'm not proclaiming that I am a great artist,I was moved by these words that I connect with in such a powerful way. Especially the part where the vintage man keeps on sculpting light. Electricity was not discovered for hundreds of years, and neon was even farther away, so sculpting light meant something very different to HAFIZ. But to me, it has the original meaning, plus it describes my passion for the vintage neon signs that I love. Back in college, a friend of mine used to say that she was not an artist, no one living is an artist. From the moment we are born, until the very moment we die, we are not artists, we are art students.
These two passages help me at times of doubt and trouble. Maybe they will help you too.