Pages Tagged “signs”
Blog Posts
- Frogging Things Up
Reptiles! Reptiles! Reptiles! Okay, okay, we’ll let some amphibians in too. As a treat. (Billboard spotted while walking around last week.)
- The Essentials
When I took this photo back in 2016, it was a combination coffee/Chinese food restaurant: they sold coffee in the mornings and Chinese food for lunch and dinner. The owner had previously run a separate coffee shop (The Bean Counter, IIRC) in the same shopping center, then combined the two businesses to save on rent. […]
- Googly Eyes! Googly Eyes Everywhere!
- Do Not Taunt the Native Plants
Sign in front of some scraggly bushes: Endangered butterfly Habitat. Please do not bebother, bend, break, bulldose, collect, cross, crumple…
- TJs Branching Out
Rumor has it that Trader Joe’s urgent care is actually provided by the name brand, just with different packaging.
- Our Trail is Better With Our Free Ap!
Found a place to hike this morning that was only in the 80s instead of hotter, and was greeted by this sign at the trailhead.
- Missing 🕶️
This has got to be intentional, right? A reference to all those cake wrecks where someone wrote out the directions on the cake?
- Oh No! They’ve Escaped!
Cage-free eggs, egg-free cage, what’s the difference?
- I Assure You We’re Open!
More scenes from a pandemic shutdown: Panera really wants you to know they’re open! (California is currently limiting all restaurants to take-out/delivery only as part of the attempt to limit coronavirus spread.) They also had a sign propped up in their delivery van window pointing out that they’re selling bread, eggs and dairy — all […]
- Yes, THAT One!
They really want to make sure you know which door to use. The funny thing is: I still reached for this one (even if momentarily) right after taking the photo! (Every time I go back to this restaurant I remember that I still haven’t posted this photo, and by the time I have a chance […]
- Modular Wetlands?
So this is where you plug in the wetlands? Just open the hatch and connect them? #confused 😕
- I’m afraid to ask
- OK, sure…but what order SHOULD I use them in?
- Oddly Specific Advertising
A Casper billboard on PCH advertises the ‘perfect mattress for furries.’ I assume it’s part of a series. Either that or they’re into really niche marketing.
- So that’s where Vaporware comes from!
This sign pairing has been there for years, and we finally picked up enough round tuits to snap a photo of it. Usually we try to catch funny signs like this as soon as possible. You can bet M’hael’s wasn’t up for very long. But sometimes, as in this case, it’s not something broken, it’s […]
- Still Dangerous
I’m not sure this fence is entirely stable. Update: Here’s another section of the fence that I don’t think I’d want to lean on! Photo album on Flickr: Del Cerro Views Originally posted on Instagram
- Restroom for ME! All Mine! You Can’t Have it!
Someone had fun with this sign. Several someones, I suspect. At first it seemed oddly specific. Why have a restroom for just ME? A hand-painted N fixed it…until someone else scraped off the remaining letters. Now it just says N…
- What about turkey pizza?
I’m sure this opinion of turkey is entirely unbiased.
- Hallo!
“Did you say Hello?” “No, I said Hallo, but that’s close enough.”
- No, thanks. We don’t want any.
I don’t think I want to shop at a “SARS” outlet store…
- Neighborhood Hunting Grounds?
I don’t think they need to worry about anyone hunting, fishing or trapping in this tiny suburban lot. Well, maybe squirrels…?
- Price wars are getting serious
9 Cent Only Stores: Now that’s what I call a discount!
- Safety Record
I want to know who broke that streak.
- The strict shuttle arrives exactly every 17.5 minutes
The strict shuttle arrives exactly every 17.5 minutes.
- Trapped!
I love the expression on this warning sign on a laundromat washing machine.
- Out of Orders
Photo: Someone went through and scraped off all the Bs from the windows at the local ex-Borders.
- Shop Smart. Shop S-Mart (Photo)
Insert obligatory Army of Darkness reference here. I wonder if their “always fresh” guarantee applies to boom sticks…
- No Fishing Allowed
Photo: A seagull perched on a post, looking at a No Fishing sign.
- Car Wash Gone Critical
Car wash sign spotted today: Radioactive Fallout – Wash it off here.
- Wheel of Time Plot Point…On a Truck?
Sadly, I don’t seem to have ever taken a picture of the logo for the “One Source” company I used to see with a variation on the Yin-Yang symbol without the dots. (There are so many companies with the name that I’m not having any luck looking online.)
- Eye See You
Optometrist sign with a giant eyeball.
- Starbuck(’)s Coffee
Someone clearly got Starbucks Coffee confused with Starbuck’s coffee.
- Do Not Climb on Mickey
Presented without further comment.
- Devil in the Construction Details
- I Have A Preposition For You
- Lost in Translation
All You Can It Sushi
- On the Internet, No One Knows You’re a Doll
Alternate caption: On the Internet, no one know you’re not a dog.
- Eliminating the BS
Signs spotted while shopping: Iglot sounds so much like igloo that it should be a kind of building. “Take it round back to the iglot.” If only there were a way for this to say “Teh Aid,” it would be perfect.
- Even Santas Have it Tough
Presumably this institution is designed to serve the needs of Santa Clauses who subsist on Ho-Hos. 😀
- Sending the Wrong Message?
I figured I’d wait until after the election to post this one. Insert your own joke about renting politicians. (Sorry about the image quality; it was across an intersection, so it was pretty small on the original image. I didn’t even resize it. It’s just cropped. Yeah, my camera isn’t that fantastic once you get […]
- How do you get them to talk?
- Saftey First – En Español
Just to show that English-language sign writers don’t have a monopoly on misspellings, here’s a sign we spotted at a construction site in Irvine: Literally it means “Think Safety” — or it would if it said “Piense seguridad.” The typo makes this the Spanish equivalent of “Saftey First.”
- Hey, Baby!
It seems that Old Navy is branching out into adoption services: “Hey, what a deal! At that price, you wanna get two?” Of course some people go the traditional route to save money. Sometimes, though, you just have to wonder what’s going through someone’s head when they come up with a brand name. 😯 So […]
- Affluent Flowers
When I first spotted this sign, I just couldn’t believe the name of the florist at the bottom. Okay, I’m sure people with more money send more flowers, but it seems a little tactless to point it out in the shop’s name. Of course, it is Irvine…
- How does that work?
Wait a minute… how does one lease a tax refund? 😀
- California Craziness
Here are some interesting/amusing signs we spotted on our trip to Northern California last month. This seemed appropriate for a trip to a comic convention. And like the Sylar Industries sign I posted earlier, all it needed was a little adjustment. Can you get a room with the power cosmic? Found in San Simeon, across […]
- Sylar Industries
Altered photo. The original sign is for Syar Industries in Napa, California, but as Heroes fans, we couldn’t resist changing it to Sylar.
- Ick! Sins!
According to Katie, this actually said “quick sins” the previous time we drove past it! This shot almost cost us our new car. The sign faces the freeway, and rather than stick Katie with shooting from a moving vehicle at night, I tried to find a good angle from the parking lot. We saw that […]
- Wash Out
Is that like “Bridge Out?” As in the wash has broken down, so isn’t safe for the water to cross? How is the water supposed to read the sign? 😉
- Yield to Confusion
Found this while wandering around the Lemon Heights area a few weeks ago, looking for scenic viewpoints. It’s on the Skyline trail, near Peters Canyon park. It seems to be saying this: Cyclists* yield to pedestrians and horses. Pedestrians yield to horses. Horses yield to no one. But if you’ve never seen it before, the […]
- New Age Drinks?
Okay, maybe I’ve missed a memo or something, but can someone tell me: what exactly is a new age drink? Nothing in the aisle stood out as being particularly new-agey.
- Icy?
I rediscovered this photo while looking for the UCI Student Center pic. One of us took it on the way back from a camping trip with UCI’s Campuswide Honors Program in the Angeles National Forest in April 2000. IIRC it was along Angeles Crest Highway. A permanent sign isn’t necessarily the best way to indicate […]
- Not a problem
Ordinarily, there wouldn’t be anything odd about this sign. But look at the placement. Why do they need a No Parking sign in the middle of the lawn? It’s a new sign, too—they just redid the entire lawn last year. Seriously, I don’t think they’re going to have much of a problem with people parking […]
- Cylon Sighting
Hmm, does anyone else think that the logo on this sign…. …looks a bit like a Cylon Basestar?
- Prim(a)tech Sighting
In honor of the Heroes DVD release, here’s a truck that’s almost, but not quite labeled for Primatech Paper: Interestingly, it’s been a month for timing pop culture releases with relevant astronomical events. First Stardust, all about catching a falling star, arrived in theaters the same weekend as the Perseids meteor shower. Today, the Heroes […]
- Vestal dot-WHAT?
This touring bus has an advertisement for the company’s website, but the placement of the handle for the cargo doors is… unfortunate, as it obscures the top of the “o” in “.com”—changing it into an entirely different word. And weren’t those who dedicated themselves to the service of Vesta called Vestal virgins? I’m just sayin’… […]
- Strange Sights of San Diego
Our first night in San Diego, we picked up our badges for Comic-Con, then went out to see Avenue Q. We took the trolley back, and as we walked up the hill from the Little Italy trolley stop, we saw a pair of giant cartoon eyes looking out over the city from a balcony near […]
- Our fu is complete
The Whole Foods market in Tustin (the only one in Orange County, as far as I can tell), is moving to the new District shopping center going in at the corner of Barranca and Jamboree, on the site of the former MCAS Tustin Marine base. Several of the big box stores are open already, but […]
- Maybe they cancel each other out
Found in a new area next to the foothills outside of Irvine that’s clearly being set up for a new housing development. I think the street was Portola Parkway, somewhere around Sand Canyon.
- Only in Vegas – Double or Nothing
While they may tell you that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, they’re not entirely correct: some of it escapes onto the internet! So here’s the lighter side of our recent trip to Las Vegas. Let’s start with the drive out. Somewhere between the Cajon Pass and Victorville, we saw a warehouse with this […]
- The Market Ace!
Actually the Lake Forest Market Place, spotted a few weeks ago.
- Only in LA
It seems fitting that I’d eventually write a post with this title, seeing as how the regular LA Times column is where I got the name for the Only in San Diego series. We were up in Los Angeles for a wedding on Wednesday and Thursday. Since we were both involved, we stayed in a […]
- Stranger than Borat?
Though of all the things I’ve heard Borat called, “queen” isn’t one of them.
- Not quite botanical
Attended a friend’s wedding last weekend, held at the Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas (north of San Diego). One constant feature of botanical gardens the world over is the collection of placards identifying each type of tree, shrub, or other plant. In the walled garden where the ceremony was held, they took it a step […]
- Quantum Home
The only problem is, you can’t be absolutely certain of where the home is and what direction it’s going at the same time.
- Flip-Floppers, all of ’em!
Spotted on a school marquee: Gee, I hope none of them ever runs for office. Some opposing PAC group will dig this up as evidence of constant flip-flopping!
- The Call of the Wild Noodle
The name of this restaurant reminds me of two things: A “Get Fuzzy” comic strip in which Bucky Katt proclaims that tofu tastes better in the wild. (Rob had to tell him it was an animal to get him to eat it, and of course Bucky had to boast about his hunting prowess.) The Swiss […]
- In Your Office
A long row of furniture stores sits in the city of Lake Forest, on a frontage road alongside the 5 freeway. Among them is this: I can just see the exchange at the workplace: “Nice chair! Where’d you get it?” “In your office.” “Hey! What’s the big idea!”
- Pirates ’n’ Prada
Wow, they’ll take anyone in that crew! Somehow, I’m not convinced! The following movies were not harmed in the making of this blog post: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Beerfest, The Devil Wears Prada, and Barnyard.
- Going Semipostal
Found on a stamp vending machine: OK, it’s not hard to figure out from context that “semipostal” simply refers to the fact that some of the cost of the stamp goes to the Post Office, while some of the cost goes to the chosen cause. But given the prevalance of the term, “going postal” as […]
- 2 to 5
Notice anything odd about this Flashback Features movie marquee? (Hint: Look at the dates.) I think I can see a solution to their problem…
- Professional…Building?
Don’t trust your office to some amateur building! Hire a professional! Of course, what I’m really concerned about is what it does on its day off…
- Irritable Liquid?
Found on the side of an AM-PM convenience store today: That’s one cranky glass of water. Or maybe Odo? My best guess is that they were trying to say something like “inflammable,” decided it wouldn’t fit, and misused a thesaurus.
- Campaign Camp
Now that the election is done, here are some of the campaign signs we saw that elicited some unintended laughter. I couldn’t decide between two captions: “But I did not hunt the deputy…” and “I didn’t think they were in season.” This isn’t funny on its own, but coming right off the Lost season finale, […]
- Keep Out!
OK, so they’re just storing stuff on the side of the intersection for a while, but seriously… doesn’t it look like a barricade?
- Not Inspiring Confidence
Enough people associate dental work with pain already… no need to remind them of it! (The sign normally says “Bright Now!”)
- These guys are animals!
Still on Photoblog Catch-up Week. Spotted along the freeway in Los Angeles several months ago. I wonder if their lawyers are Wolfram and Hart?
- Street Guacamole
Photoblog Catch-up Week continues! Last weekend we stopped at a nearby nursery to pick up some potting soil. We walked out with two tomatoes, one fuchsia, three herbs, a couple of pots, some bamboo… and the potting soil. We parked in front of this sign. Yes, it was next to an avocado tree.
- 2-Item Combo
Drove past this place last weekend and only noticed the convenient pairing of the Karate studio with the Impact Rehabilitation Center. Came back this week to get a picture, and noticed it also seemed to advertise Red Hot Curves…
- Park. Villa Park.
OK, it’s not quite as confusing as having, say, a First Street and a First Avenue in the same city, but sometimes you have to wonder what went through the mind of the city planner who approved certain street names.
- Retroblogging
On Friday, Katie wanted to look for some craft supplies at a store we’d seen before, called—believe it or not—Yarn Yarn. We’d first noticed it a couple of years ago, and took a picture of the sign for blog purposes. The store was closed, but on our way back to the car, we spotted the […]
- There Goes the Hogwarts Express
Is this what he saved those mean girls from?
- Her Factory
The Leather Factory sign was missing a few letters one night: So whose factory is it, exactly? She Who Must Be Obeyed? Can guys even buy stuff there?
- Finding an Inn
How often do you get to revisit an old in-joke? Six years ago, Katie and I were driving past the Inn-N-Out by UCI and noticed the sign was only half-lit. Katie exclaimed: It’s an inn! The out is out on In-N-Out! Last Friday we went back to UCI for a play and had dinner at […]
- End Construction!
The webcomic Real Life has a strange way of looking at the world. Sometimes I share it. I couldn’t begin to count the number of times I’ve seen one of these signs and deliberately misread it as a demand rather than a description. I can just imagine a group of people marching in front of […]
- Bon voyage, mon appetit!
One look at this, and you’ll say goodbye to your appetite! Wait, I’m sure that’s not what they’re going for… (On another level, the reflected palm trees fit in with the travel theme.)
- Which way do I go now?
This is a traffic signal on the Jeffrey off-ramp from the northbound 5 in Irvine. The ramp is 3 lanes wide, and the middle lane can go either way. It’s not often that you actually see a double arrow like this, though. It’s times like this that make me wish I’d taken a picture of […]
- Scool Zone
Bad enough that they misspelled “school,” but “development” as well? You have to wonder who’s managing their signs. (The underscore used in place of a dash bugs me, but not as much.) And yes, this is the same elementary school that was “cloced for repairs” one time we drove past it. I’m seriously reminded of […]
- Wet Floor: This Means You
I have to wonder, were people ignoring the Caution sign until they scrawled “for you” on it? Edit: I also can’t help but think of Something Positive’s emo catgirl drawing.
- The Money Pit
Ah, the truth about home improvement!
- Gate Smasher!
I don’t know why, but there’s something comedic about the design of this sign. Found last week while walking to the parking lot after Evita.
- Viking Catering
Here’s an interesting storefront window: Just what kind of food would vikings serve? Mead, I suppose. Probably with “roaring fires, malt beer, [and] red meat off the bone!”
- Dating the Dead
For a movie theater with only four screens, they seem to be going for themes lately. How else would they end up pairing up these two? Corpse Bride, Just Like Heaven. (I passed the sign the night before, and it was pairing up The 40 Year Old Virgin with Just Like Heaven—another combination that’s just […]
- Hot and Fresh!
A‘a Fresh Mexican Grill? I think I’d better stick with the *mild* salsa.
- That Explains It!
Okay, read the last two titles together: The 40 Year Old Virgin, Unwanted Woman. It seems like the second line might explain the first… (On a side note, this is the second post with pictures from my new camera phone. The image quality is pathetic compared to the good camera—640×480 vs. 5 megapixels—but it’s a […]
- Spoo!
Our friend Jason spotted this partial sign over the weekend: As you may or may not be aware, an alien foodstuff called spoo was a running joke in Babylon 5. The first time it was mentioned in the show, someone asked what it was, and JMS replied with a long, humorous explanation. (Thanks to Wayne […]
- This Way to the Egress
Whenever I see this freeway sign, I think of the story about PT Barnum trying to get people to leave and putting up a sign saying This Way to the Egress.
- Only in San Diego? Volume 2 Part 2
Amusing sights from Comic-Con and around town: faith insurance, Xena’s coffee, the Pikachu bug, and more, including…the pastrami love burger?
- Only in San Diego? Volume 2 Part 1
The Vegetable Garage, cactus feet, Sam Adams smoothies, Haunted Hotel, a cubic Stonehenge, and other strange sights found around San Diego.
- Those sushi chefs are such cut-ups!
Well, technically, the fish is severed…
- Watch where you point that thing!
This roller coaster ad was supposed to say, “Ready. Aim. Scream.” But when we got stuck waiting for a long turn signal, the view from the passenger’s seat suggested that the Silver Bullet gets some people a little more excited than that.
- What it all Mean’s
Katie spotted this example of apostrophe abuse in an office parking lot. The best service mean is…? Statistical analysis of dumpster service? Is there any *ahem* meaning for which this would actually make sense?
- Beware of Invisible Cows
The visitor center for the Mauna Kea observatories has a sign that says Beware of Invisible Cows. It actually makes sense in context.
- Bunny Xing
Across the street from the Irvine Civic Center: This brings back memories of days in UCI’s student housing. There were rabbits everywhere. The complex was right next to a big empty field, and rabbits would hop through all the time. “Oh, look, a rabbit!” “Yeah, yeah, same old, same old.” But this is the first […]
- Only In San Diego? Part 2
More strange sights at Comic-Con: Indigo Grills, a Martini Ranch, the Death Star cannon hidden in the convention center, and Salvador Dali’s hotel soap.
- Worst. Computer Store Name. Ever!
Another gem from Joshua Tree (actually Yucca Valley), courtesy of Jason, who first spotted it:
- Mentawhat?
OK, I’m all for spiritual retreats and the like, but what the heck is “mentalphysics?!?” (Thanks to Jason for the photo!)
- Living in Harmony
On Highway 62, in Twentynine Palms, we saw this first coming from the other direction. On the other side it says, “Where if not now?” At first we thought they had just messed up the wording, but when we came back along the same road and saw “When if not here?” it all made sense.
- Something Missing
This is just around the corner from the “roller coaster.” But think about it. If she’s a real patient, shouldn’t they show, well, her breasts? Not like that, you pervert, in a bikini or something! Gyms tend to show before-and-after (or just after) shots of people with muscled or trim torsos. The whole reason you […]