Behave Yourself: Signs That Promote Good Sportsmanship

by Catherine R, May 17th with 0 comments

There’s a wealth of knowledge and life skills to be learned from participating in team sports. If we ensure that our kids have coaches who are good role models, and we take care to be good role models ourselves, our kids can only benefit. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, and sometimes we’re doing more harm than good.

Top 10 Signs You’ll Never Play for Major League Baseball

by Catherine R, May 17th with 0 comments

Not everyone can play in the big leagues: it takes talent, dedication and a little bit of luck. You might have big aspirations, but that doesn’t mean that a MLB team will be where you find your career. What are the top 10 signs you’ll never play for major league baseball? Read ‘em here.

Sports Signage: With Love From Fans

by Catherine R, May 16th with 0 comments

If a sport was played without any fans present, would anyone care? Probably not. Because while the players might seem as though they’re thoroughly engrossed in their games, they rely on fans to provide energy, noise and motivation. Every sports team has a loyal fan base that supports and cheers players on—even when things are going badly. The fans are why players shine. Today we’re celebrating the sports signage created and displayed by some of the best fans in the world.

The Best Baseball Movies Ever

by Catherine R, May 14th with 0 comments

“Baseball was, is and always will be to me the best game in the world.”

-Babe Ruth

I’m not the world’s biggest sports fan, but to me, the start of the baseball season signifies spring. Those first few games make me feel as though all my senses are finally waking up after a long, dull winter’s nap.

Signs of Spring

by Catherine R, April 30th with 0 comments

Here in Utah, we have some absolutely incredible skiing. Our powdery snow is world-famous, and we’re lucky to play in it (as the many tourists from all over the globe constantly remind us). And we do play in it. All. Winter. Long. But to be honest, all the long months of cold, cold weather and the piles of slush and snow get kind of old and tiresome.

By April, we Utahns are ready to pack away our skis and hit the slopes in hiking boots. Every April it warms up beautifully for a week or so… and then it snows. Again. But by the end of April, Mother Nature usually gets serious about bringing on spring. How do we know when it’s safe to pack away our mittens and parkas? Because we see the signs of spring, of course.

Updated: Interview With Bryan McCormick of Vegas Vernacular

by Daniel R, April 23rd with 1 comments

Update: 4/22/2013: While I was attending the 2013 International Sign Association’s Sign Expo in Las Vegas a couple weeks ago, I had the privilege of sitting down with Bryan over lunch to discuss the latest happenings with the Vegas Vernacular. It had been about 6 months since our first interview and I wanted to get an update on the organization, what they are currently working on and what’s next……oh and to get my print of the Desert Moon Motel I ordered!

Although I loved meeting Bryan at the art exhibit back in September of 2012, this time around was even better. We went to an incredible little place to eat, called EAT, in old downtown and just talked signage. It was the first time I had ever just walked around that area and it really gave me an appreciation for what Bryan and his team are trying to document. Once you get away from the Strip, you realize that a whole other world exists. Just walking and driving down Freemont Street – away from the tourist traps – you quickly realize what Vegas was truly about. It’s not about the massive Casinos. It’s about the hundreds of family owned motels and businesses that lined the streets. Each one with a unique story. Each one on the verge of disappearing.

Although they have accumulated around 50,000 images, there is still more to be done. Much of their current projects are based on immediate necessity. Not only are the smaller motels and building being closed down, they are being torn down. Bryan said that just knowing what properties are next is difficult. Then trying to get in to photograph them can be an even bigger challenge.

But, aside from the constant need to document the signs, Bryan and his team are right in the middle of creating a platform to catalog and display the images. The best part of the platform, they want to make it available to other organizations, in other cities, to allow them to accomplish the same goal as the Vegas Vernacular. A national platform for all to use as inspiration and education. They have also spent some time trying to track down the artists, like “King” Richard Harris, who actually created the hand painted signage. Their personal stories are as much a part of the dialogue as the signs they created!

For the most part, things continue at breakneck speed for the Vegas Vernacular and the ever changing landscape of Las Vegas sure keeps Bryan on his toes. Let’s just hope he is quick enough to document it before it’s gone!

The Spotlight Shines on Vegas’ Neon Museum

by Daniel R, April 23rd with 1 comments

Born From Necessity

As I sat across from Danielle Kelly, the executive director of The Neon Museum, I almost forgot that we were discussing old, beat up, and sometimes forgotten signs. In fact, I felt that we could have been talking about a recently discovered Picasso or Van Gogh original. That’s how passionate Danielle is about her beloved museum and the works of art that she and her team painstakingly curates.

Founded in 1996, The Neon Museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and restoring iconic Las Vegas signage to display and educate future generations on the area’s unique art form. But, according to Danielle, the path to what visitors see today when they come to the Neon Museum is a far cry from where they started.

A History of American Taxation: A Tea Party, a Whiskey Rebellion & More

by Catherine R, April 15th with 0 comments

Today millions of Americans will fill out their tax forms, write checks and mail or e-file the whole mess of paperwork off to the IRS. Some Americans receive tax refunds (those lucky folks usually file in January or February…their refunds have long been spent). Some have to pay a little. Some have to pay a lot. Regardless, most like to whine and complain about paying at all.

The Burglar Deterrent Everyone Should Have

by Catherine R, April 11th with 0 comments

Spring is here and you’re loving the blooming tulips, the longer daylight hours and especially the warmer weather. Do you know who else is loving all this warm weather? Your friendly neighborhood burglar.

The Mad Men Guide to Marketing

by Catherine R, April 8th with 0 comments

Last night AMC aired the season six premiere of Mad Men. While we’re not about to let any spoilers slip, we can tell you that a few things haven’t changed much since season five: Don Draper is still pretty hot, and he’s still up to the same shenanigans. There’s family drama, personal drama and office drama. And we always learn a lot about marketing from the Mad Men (and women) of Sterling Cooper Draper. We thought we’d share some of the wisdom they’ve passed on over the last five years.