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Boston Globe
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Meet the Retrologist, a man on a mission to document America's fading roadside attractions
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up By day, Pujol is a journalist at WABC-TV in New York, but by night, weekends, and pretty much any other spare moment, he devotes his time to documenting midcentury roadside kitsch. Most of Pujol's tales begin with road trips seeking out a drive-in theater or a pair of 12-foot hot dog statues, and then quickly build into adventures as he explores the country, collecting images and stories about a dying slice of Americana known as the roadside attraction. Advertisement He's perhaps the only person who can convincingly begin a story with: 'I was driving to see an old Ben Franklin store around Millbury, Vt., and then I saw a 20-foot concrete gorilla named Queen Connie, so I had to pull over.' Advertisement Retrologist is a term he's coined to describe his obsession. It's also the name of his Sometimes the attractions are saved (such as the Shell sign from 1933, located in Cambridge), but more often than not, communities don't see their value. Pujol included the now-defunct Twin Donuts in his book, but frets over the fate of its iconic and eye-catching sign. 'I was heartbroken to see that go,' he said of the 70-year-old donut shop, and then immediately asked, 'Do you know if the sign is still there?' Twin Donuts in Allston closed after 70 years. The diner's last day was March 23, 2025. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe From the 1940s to the 1970s, roadside attractions were an essential part of the landscape in the United States. Eye-catching neon signs, glistening chrome diners, and 40-foot metal fishermen were intended to entice motorists to pull over, shop, or eat. When you see an ice cream shop shaped like a cone or a massive geodesic dome painted blue to resemble a blueberry, chances are, curiosity will get the better of you, and you'll stop in for a look. At least that was the logic back when family vacations involved getting in a car without iPads and cellphones. Pujol, 52, said he first became enamored with these gems of Americana during family road trips in the 1970s. He would look out the car window at the bright orange roofs of Howard Johnsons or gaze with amazement at Muffler Men, the term used to describe 20-foot-tall, fiberglass statues used for advertising in the 1960s. Advertisement The Modern Diner in Pawtucket, RI. Its owners placed it on the market earlier this month. Rolando Puloj/Handout 'From a very early age, I was transfixed by roadside attractions,' Pujol said. 'The first road trip we took as a family, I was 4, and we drove from New York to Miami. 'There are so many interesting stops along that route. But the one that, of course, comes to mind is good old South of the Border in South Carolina. That made an impression on me even as a 4-year-old. For those who have never witnessed its splendor, Go ahead and call it tacky. Pujol finds no shame in the word. "Queen Connie," a 20-foot concrete sculpture of a gorilla, hoists a Volkswagen over her head at Pioneer Auto Sales in Leicester, Vt. Christopher Muther/Globe Staff While South of the Border is still in business, many famed roadside relics haven't survived into the 21st century. Quirky old motor lodges and cheese wheel-shaped stores are continually razed to make way for more characterless square box stores. Neon signs that beckoned motorists for decades are tossed into the landfill or wind up in private collections. 'It is heartbreaking. And you see that happen all the time,' he said. 'Sometimes these old stores get almost manipulated by sign shops into updating their look. They're told they need a new sign, and then they'll replace their beautiful vintage sign with a banal plastic sign or bland awning.' Advertisement For his book, Pujol traversed the entire country in his quest to find some of the best attractions and sights, and New England did not disappoint. He fell in love with kitsch icons such as the giant orange dinosaur in Saugus that was saved from near-death after the miniature golf course where it resided went out of business. The famous "Leaning Tower of Pizza" in Saugus is one of Rolando Pujol's favorite retro roadside attractions. Pujol refers to himself as the Retrologist. Christopher Muther/Globe Staff In addition to Twin Donuts, he also included Donut Dip in West Springfield, the Golden Rod in York Beach, Maine, the Weirs Beach sign in Laconia, N.H., the Teddie Peanut Butter Factory in Everett, Dairy Witch Ice Cream in Salem, and Modern Diner in Pawtucket, R.I. Like many of his favorite places, the fate of the Modern Diner is also unknown. Its owners have decided to sell, and it's now on the market. 'What makes these things so appealing is that they invite you and encourage you, almost force you to get out of your phone and stop doom scrolling and get out there and see things and, God forbid, talk to people,' he said. 'I love that. And you can't have those experiences locked up at home. That's why it's sad to see another one on the endangered list.' While places continue to close or remodel, Pujol is encouraged that he's seeing a growing community of people who seem to care about the fate of these places. He's hopeful that an increase in retro appreciation will mean a brighter future for some of his beloved destinations. The sign for Howard's Leather Shop in Spofford, NH, harkens back to the days when mom-and-pop stores used over-the-top signs to attract motorists passing by. This is featured in the book "The Great American Retro Road Trip." Rolando Pujol/Handout 'I don't want to overstate the point and call it a trend, but there are some indications that a revival of interest in this stuff is beginning to manifest,' he said, choosing his words carefully as if speaking too optimistically might jinx the future of these attractions. 'At some point, I'd like to think that people will get tired of everything being bland and beige. These attractions are not only historic but they're a window into our collective history, how we used to live, and what brought us joy.' Advertisement Christopher Muther can be reached at
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cuomo, Adams face calls to unite behind 1 NYC mayoral candidate
Just weeks after New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani declared victory in the primary, other candidates set to be on the ballot -- particularly incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo – are facing calls to unite behind another candidate in order to stymie Mamdani's bid, even if that means dropping out themselves. The calls come as Mamdani consolidates other support for his mayoral bid. He has received newfound endorsements from groups and people who had endorsed Cuomo in the primary, including the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council AFL-CIO and the 32BJ SEIU property service workers union. On Thursday, New York Rep. Adriano Espaillat also endorsed him after having previously endorsed Cuomo. MORE: Influential Latino leader Espaillat endorses Mamdani in New York mayor's race Other Democrats have sounded a sharply different tone. Former New York Gov. David Paterson, in a press conference on Monday, called on mayoral candidates to unite behind one candidate in order to stop Mamdani. He framed Mamdani as "antagonistic" and too inexperienced to run a city as complex as New York. Paterson -- who supported Cuomo in the primary -- brought up a recent suggestion by independent candidate Jim Walden that an independent poll should be run close to the election, and the candidates that lose in the poll would endorse whoever won and stop campaigning. MORE: Mamdani's New York mayoral primary win exposes Democratic divide "What we are really doing is calling on the candidates who are still in the race to find a way to unite behind one of them," he said. A spokesperson for Cuomo said that the Cuomo campaign would review the poll proposal from Walden, but did not make any commitments. "Jim proposed a fair independent survey be taken in September to determine whose candidacy and vision for New York is strongest in a one-on-one race in November. Today, Governor David Paterson supported that proposal. While this is unorthodox, these are unusual times. We are at a dangerous moment for our city," spokesperson Rich Azzopardi wrote, adding that their campaign does not see any path to victory for Adams. Adams did not run in the Democratic mayoral primary and is running in the election as an independent. Cuomo conceded in the Democratic primary, but has qualified for an independent ballot line in the general election. Cuomo has not yet said if he'll actively campaign. Adams told ABC station WABC-TV on Monday, "I've said that over and over again, over and over again, that -- do the right thing for the people of this city and mobilize around one candidate so we can look at the extreme threat that we're having with Mamdani." Adams, in an appearance on CNBC on Monday morning, claimed that Cuomo had asked him to step aside from the mayoral race. Asked for comment on Adams' claim, a spokesperson for Cuomo did not deny it, but said the campaign would not discuss private conversations. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa will also be on the ballot and has rebuffed calls to withdraw as well. "Andrew Cuomo couldn't defeat Zohran Mamdani in a primary, and Eric Adams has failed to win the support of either party and is now polling dead last," he said in a statement after Paterson's comments. "I'm running on the issues, and I will beat Mamdani on November 4th. I will bring this city back." Laura Tamman, a political science professor at Pace University, said it does not look likely any candidate will withdraw, given how candidates such as Adams and Sliwa have indicated strongly that they'll stay in. She said she could predict some scenarios where Cuomo could endorse a different candidate. "There just aren't really incentives for anyone to get out of the race, because Mamdani looks so certain to win," she told ABC News. MORE: Zohran Mamdani tells ABC News he plans to win over moderate Dems, other voters after upset win in NYC mayoral primary It's also unlikely an independent candidate would win anyways, she added, and Mamdani is still the favorite. "It's not because he's the Democratic nominee, although he is, but because [Mamdani] demonstrated that he has such broad appeal during the primary election campaign, he won over voters from almost every demographic, and there wasn't a clear ideological split … he appealed to moderate Democrats as well as progressive, left Democrats." Some real estate and business interests in the city have also aligned against Mamdani. Tamman told ABC News that 'there are business interests that think a Mamdani mayoralty will be bad for their pocketbooks, so they have a financial incentive to oppose his candidacy.' Mamdani has reached out to members of the business community to meet with and hear from them. One major outside group involved in the race is hedging its bets. Fix the City, an independent expenditure group that spent more than $14 million supporting Cuomo in the primary, may choose a candidate to support in the general election. A source close to the super PAC said that some donors want Fix the City to support "a free-market candidate with the experience to govern effectively." "Fix The City is currently assessing the evolving situation and has yet to decide what role it intends to play in the general election," spokesperson Liz Benjamin told ABC News. Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, who donated hundreds of thousands to the Fix the City, said earlier this month that he met with both Cuomo and Adams and said he believes Cuomo should step aside to let Adams take on Mamdani.
11-07-2025
- Politics
Andrew Cuomo, Eric Adams face calls to unite behind 1 NYC mayoral candidate -- though neither appears willing to drop out
Just weeks after New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani declared victory in the primary, other candidates set to be on the ballot -- particularly incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo – are facing calls to unite behind another candidate in order to stymie Mamdani's bid, even if that means dropping out themselves. The calls come as Mamdani consolidates other support for his mayoral bid. He has received newfound endorsements from groups and people who had endorsed Cuomo in the primary, including the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council AFL-CIO and the 32BJ SEIU property service workers union. On Thursday, New York Rep. Adriano Espaillat also endorsed him after having previously endorsed Cuomo. Other Democrats have sounded a sharply different tone. Former New York Gov. David Paterson, in a press conference on Monday, called on mayoral candidates to unite behind one candidate in order to stop Mamdani. He framed Mamdani as "antagonistic" and too inexperienced to run a city as complex as New York. Paterson -- who supported Cuomo in the primary -- brought up a recent suggestion by independent candidate Jim Walden that an independent poll should be run close to the election, and the candidates that lose in the poll would endorse whoever won and stop campaigning. "What we are really doing is calling on the candidates who are still in the race to find a way to unite behind one of them," he said. A spokesperson for Cuomo said that the Cuomo campaign would review the poll proposal from Walden, but did not make any commitments. "Jim proposed a fair independent survey be taken in September to determine whose candidacy and vision for New York is strongest in a one-on-one race in November. Today, Governor David Paterson supported that proposal. While this is unorthodox, these are unusual times. We are at a dangerous moment for our city," spokesperson Rich Azzopardi wrote, adding that their campaign does not see any path to victory for Adams. Adams did not run in the Democratic mayoral primary and is running in the election as an independent. Cuomo conceded in the Democratic primary, but has qualified for an independent ballot line in the general election. Cuomo has not yet said if he'll actively campaign. Adams told ABC station WABC-TV on Monday, "I've said that over and over again, over and over again, that -- do the right thing for the people of this city and mobilize around one candidate so we can look at the extreme threat that we're having with Mamdani." Adams, in an appearance on CNBC on Monday morning, claimed that Cuomo had asked him to step aside from the mayoral race. Asked for comment on Adams' claim, a spokesperson for Cuomo did not deny it, but said the campaign would not discuss private conversations. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa will also be on the ballot and has rebuffed calls to withdraw as well. "Andrew Cuomo couldn't defeat Zohran Mamdani in a primary, and Eric Adams has failed to win the support of either party and is now polling dead last," he said in a statement after Paterson's comments. "I'm running on the issues, and I will beat Mamdani on November 4th. I will bring this city back." Laura Tamman, a political science professor at Pace University, said it does not look likely any candidate will withdraw, given how candidates such as Adams and Sliwa have indicated strongly that they'll stay in. She said she could predict some scenarios where Cuomo could endorse a different candidate. "There just aren't really incentives for anyone to get out of the race, because Mamdani looks so certain to win," she told ABC News. It's also unlikely an independent candidate would win anyways, she added, and Mamdani is still the favorite. "It's not because he's the Democratic nominee, although he is, but because [Mamdani] demonstrated that he has such broad appeal during the primary election campaign, he won over voters from almost every demographic, and there wasn't a clear ideological split … he appealed to moderate Democrats as well as progressive, left Democrats." Some real estate and business interests in the city have also aligned against Mamdani. Tamman told ABC News that 'there are business interests that think a Mamdani mayoralty will be bad for their pocketbooks, so they have a financial incentive to oppose his candidacy.' Mamdani has reached out to members of the business community to meet with and hear from them. One major outside group involved in the race is hedging its bets. Fix the City, an independent expenditure group that spent more than $14 million supporting Cuomo in the primary, may choose a candidate to support in the general election. A source close to the super PAC said that some donors want Fix the City to support "a free-market candidate with the experience to govern effectively." "Fix The City is currently assessing the evolving situation and has yet to decide what role it intends to play in the general election," spokesperson Liz Benjamin told ABC News. Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, who donated hundreds of thousands to the Fix the City, said earlier this month that he met with both Cuomo and Adams and said he believes Cuomo should step aside to let Adams take on Mamdani.
Mint
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
NYC Pride March 2025 rises in protest: Here's how to watch and why it matters
New York City's 54th annual Pride March steps off today, Sunday, June 29, at 11 a.m., flooding Manhattan streets with thousands celebrating LGBTQ+ resilience. This year's theme, "Rise Up: Pride in Protest," responds to increased political hostility and scaled-back corporate support, with 39% of companies reducing Pride initiatives. The 1.8-mile route begins at 26th Street and 5th Avenue, passing the Stonewall National Monument before dispersing at 15th Street and 7th Avenue. Kazz Alexander, NYC Pride co-chair was quoted as saying, 'We must support one another, because when the most marginalized among us are granted their rights, all of us benefit.' 'Pride is not merely a celebration of identity—it is a powerful statement of resistance, affirming that justice and equity will ultimately prevail for those who live and love on the margins," Alexander continued. For those unable to attend, ABC-7 (WABC-TV) will broadcast the march live starting at noon ET, with free streaming available on Grand Marshals Karine Jean-Pierre, activist Marti Gould Cummings, DJ Lina, Elisa Crespo, and advocacy group Trans formative Schools will lead the procession. Concurrently, PrideFest – the city's largest LGBTQIA+ street fair – runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. along 4th Avenue. Despite heightened security with 10,000 barriers and police patrols, officials confirm no credible threats exist. The march commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, where patrons of the Greenwich Village gay bar resisted police harassment, igniting the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. When same-sex intimacy was criminalized, bars like Stonewall provided rare safe havens. The first anniversary march in 1970 launched this tradition of protest and visibility, leading to President Clinton declaring June Pride Month in 1999 and President Obama designating Stonewall a national monument in 2016. Today's event embodies that legacy, challenging ongoing discrimination while celebrating hard-won freedoms as millions rally worldwide.
The Irish Sun
27-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Lifeguard, 18, impaled by beach umbrella recalls horror and reveals pole missed artery by a centimeter in freak accident
A LIFEGUARD impaled by a beach umbrella has recalled she was lucky to survive following the freak accident. Alex, a college student, revealed the umbrella's pole missed her artery by just one centimeter as she spoke about the horror. Advertisement 2 Alex, a teen lifeguard, was impaled when trying to tie an umbrella to a stand Credit: ABC She was trying to tie the umbrella to a stand on the beach in Asbury Park, New Jersey, but encountered problems, as reported by the ABC affiliate Alex wanted to protect herself from the heat as temperatures hovered around 95F on Wednesday. But, the rope she was using to tie the umbrella to the stand was frayed. But, the umbrella was then picked up by a gust of wind. Advertisement read more on news Alex revealed that she tried to catch the umbrella but ended up landing on the pole. The pole went through her shoulder and her back. The 18-year-old admitted her brain was 'heavy' after realizing what had happened. 'I was like 'oh my gosh, I've been impaled,' she told WABC-TV. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Exclusive She admitted that she was fortunate her injuries weren't more serious. 'I was very lucky where it hit me because it missed every major blood vessel and it just went through my muscles,' she said. 'The pole was very close to major blood vessels,' the teen told the CBS affiliate 'It was a half a centimeter away from at least one major blood vessel. Advertisement 'It could've been so much worse, actually.' Alex revealed that a band saw was used to get parts of the six-foot-long pole from out of her armpit. The pole had to be cut before the girl was taken to the hospital . Beachgoers were left stunned by what had happened. Advertisement 'As a mother of teenagers , it's so shocking and scary,' Nancy Brillo told Her injuries means she won't be able to return to lifeguarding duties for around six weeks. She had just finished her first year at the University of Wisconsin. But, Alex hasn't been put off returning to the beach despite the accident. Advertisement 2 Revelers at the beach in Asbury Park, New Jersey, on Memorial Day Credit: Getty
