CARLV12 Blog

Tonga Apartments - Ventura, CA Tiki culture is a uniquely American daydream about the South Pacific - part fantasy, part nostalgia, and entirely about escape. It first emerged in the 1930s and really took off after World War II, when returning GIs brought home scattered impressions of islands they’d visited or heard about. Bars like Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic’s took those impressions and turned them into fully immersive environments: rooms glowing with pufferfish lamp

2026 - 2nd Quarter News We hope everyone is having a nice spring. It has already reached 110 degrees here in Palm Springs, but has recently settled into the high 80s - low 90s. Since shipping fees from the US are constantly changing, we are currently shipping all items free of charge to the US and Canada, and unframed fine art prints to the UK. Photo retirement Lucky Boy Motel We're listing the top 5 closest to retiring. Lucky Boy Motel 95 In-N-Out Burger II 94 Pink Cad

Big Josh - Joshua Tree, CA If you’ve ever been cruising down a quiet American highway and suddenly noticed a 20-foot fiberglass dude staring back at you from the roadside, welcome to the world of Muffler Men . These larger-than-life figures, usually standing 18 to 25 feet tall, began popping up in the early 1960s as a way for gas stations, tire shops, and muffler shops to get noticed. And honestly? It worked. Built from molded fiberglass with broad shoulders, a stern expressi

Breeze blocks, also known as concrete screen blocks, are a type of brise soleil, which means "sun breaker" in French. They first appeared in the early 1900s as concrete manufacturing improved. The blocks were originally utilitarian - cheap, durable building units used for structural walls, basements, and industrial buildings.