The Shamrock Shake is Back for 2021

Forget the McRib. The McDonald's menu item I look forward to reappearing is that pastel green-colored, minty Shamrock Shake. Earlier today I walked a mile to the closest McDonald's -- with the idea that I'd burn calories and get one as a reward — only to find that it wasn't yet available, despite BEING ON THE MENU. Later, I called other nearby McDonald's and found a location to grab the treat. Worth it.

Do The Shamrock Shake Today

As usual, I gave up dessert for Lent, so the closest I'll get to a Shamrock Shake today is this t-shirt. (Thankfully, I managed to enjoy one this year before Ash Wednesday.) Happy St. Patricks Day, all.

Los Angeles Ad Town: McDonald's Takes Over Union Station

So much happens at Downtown's Union Station -- and so much of it has nothing to do with trains. The amazing Invisible Cities opera, now in its final performances. Weddings. And of course, plenty of film, TV and ad shoots. Here's one of the latest, from McDonald's.

Retro Friday: Train to Be a McDonald's Employee, Circa 1972

What a wild find: A 1972 McDonald's training video. Working at McDonald's back then wasn't a job, it was a way to help humankind. "You have one life to live. Make it rich with what you give to your brother."

Is McDonald's New Salad Racist?

Whomever added a bit of graffiti to this billboard -- perhaps questioning what makes a salad "Asian" -- sure does think so. (Billboard found at the corner of Fairfax and 6th.)

Visiting the Original McDonald's in Downey

Over the weekend we drove down to Downey on a historic eats hunt. First up was Bob's Big Boy Broiler, the Googie diner restored after being hit by a wrecking ball (more on that visit tomorrow).

After that, we headed just around the block to explore the 1953 McDonald's restaurant at Lakewood Blvd. and Florence Ave. It's now the oldest still-operating McDonald's in the world and the third franchised McDonald's ever built.



Still decked out with the original McDonald's logo and "Speedee" mascot, the original McDonald's here almost didn't survive. The location was shut down after the 1994 Northridge earthquake; but after the L.A. Conservancy and even then-Gov. Pete Wilson got involved, it was saved and restored. (At the time, the Conservancy noted that the McDonald's issue elicited more response than just about any of its other causes. Kinda sad, I suppose, but that's our consumer culture for you.)

Check out some great past-and-present pics from the Downey Conservancy here.



The original arched building, still serving.



Part of the seating area has been turned into a McDonald's museum.



Original mixer with "Speedee" cups.



Original doors from McDonalds' "Hamburger University" at the museum.



"A pleasure every family can afford."



Feed a family of four for $1.80!



Original McDonald's menu.

Los Angeles, Ad Town (one in a series): Sunkist Plays McDonald's

Hey, a headquarters building is a headquarters building. Burger King takes some artistic license in this recent spot, in which "The King" is seen sneaking into McDonald's HQ.

Of course, any Valleyite will recognize this building: It's actually the Sunkist building in Sherman Oaks.

Here's a shot of the 1968 building, from You-are-here's Martin Schall:



By the way, what kind of advertising message is this? Basically, Burger King admitting that it's ripping off a McDonald's breakfast sandwich -- and just selling it at a slightly cheaper price? Has Burger King just given up?

(Thanks to Craig for the info!)

Shamrock The Shake: Any Los Angeles Sightings?

We're usually on top of the Shamrock Shake news here at Franklin Avenue -- just check out our extensive past coverage.

But I must admit, I haven't been keeping in the loop this year -- having not been to a MickeyD's in years (other than to get, well, a Shamrock Shake). But I haven't seen a banner touting the green treat at any McDonald's I pass by. And the unofficial tally of Shamrock Shake sightings is inconclusive about Southern California -- although it seems like the Bay Area has been blessed.

Then there's the question of how much the winning Shamrock Shake formula has been tampered with. According to Serious Eats, the revived shake is less minty, comes with whipped cream and a cherry, and is poured into a small plastic cup.

Your Favorite Coffee Chain: Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf squeaked by Starbucks to win our poll for best coffee chain found in Los Angeles. I'm a bit surprised by the results here. Not necessarily the Coffee Bean win -- it's a hometown chain, and it's generally well-liked (especially thanks to those signature Ice Blendeds).

But given how uncool it is these days to admit you patronize Big Brother Starbucks, I'm a tad surprised that Starbucks nearly took the competition. I figured Peet's would come in second; I was also glad to see Swork perform decently, especially since it's not truly a chain. Then there's McDonalds -- which inspired this poll, given its new push into the coffee space. Turns out not many folks are "lovin' it."

Ga-Ga For Googie

(Flickr pic by AgilityNut.)

With gas prices what they are and the cost of a plane ticket continuing to rise, the L.A. Times is smartly paying more attention to local trips and sightseeing in its Travel section.

This past Sunday, that included a brief primer on survivng Googie architecture in Los Angeles:

This whimsical, Space Age look grew out of the Midcentury Modern style -- think LAX's flying-saucer-like Theme Building -- and became synonymous with Southern California's fun-loving lifestyle.

Even the story of how Googie got its name is fanciful. Yale professor Douglas Haskell spotted the Googie coffee shop, the eponymous building that once sat at Crescent Heights and Sunset boulevards. He declared the style "Googie" in a 1952 House and Home magazine article.

Among the paper's Googie examples:

BAHOOKA (4501 Rosemead Blvd., Rosemead): " Polynesian-style design, plant life."
BEACH-LIN CAR WASH (126 S. Beach Blvd., Anaheim): "Free-form design, steel beams and wires."
BOB'S BIG BOY (4211 W. Riverside Drive, Burbank): "Streamline Moderne architecture, large glass windows, plant life."
BRUNSWICK COVINA BOWL (1060 W. San Bernardino Road, Covina): "Free-form design, A-frame roof, large palm trees, angled marquee sign."
CASA DE CADILLAC (14401 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks): "Large pane windows, neon roadside signage."
CBS TELEVISION CITY (7800 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles): "Modern entranceway, lightweight-looking materials."
CHIPS (11908 Hawthorne Blvd., Hawthorne): "Concrete walls, glass windows, jutting roof, plant life, steel-beam pylon sign."
JACK COLKER UNION 76 (427 N. Crescent Drive, Beverly Hills): ""Space Age-style sloped roof."
LA HABRA 300 BOWL (70 E. Whittier Blvd., La Habra): " A-frame roof, pylon beams, neon starburst sign."
ORIGINAL McDONALD'S (10207 Lakewood Blvd., Downey): "Iconic golden arches."
NORMS (470 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles): "Concrete walls, glass windows, jutting roof, neon marquee."
PANN'S RESTAURANT & COFFEE SHOP (6710 La Tijera Blvd., Los Angeles): "Tilted roof and sign, plants and exposed stone walls indoors and out, glass windows wrapping around the restaurant. Pann's celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Watch for party information this fall."
SIMPLY WHOLESOME (FORMERLY THE WICH STAND) (4508 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles): "Sloped concrete roof, stone walls, indoor-outdoor seating, Space Age-style antenna sign."
STARBUCKS (FORMERLY SHIPS CULVER CITY) (9718 Washington Blvd., Culver City): "Glass window panes surrounding the restaurant, concrete siding."

L.A. Times Pays For Itself Today

Before it's too late, pick up today's paper and make sure you grab both the Starbucks and McDonald's ads. McDonald's is offering a free medium ice coffee, while the Starbucks insert -- promoting the chain's new "Pike Place Roast" -- offers free tall coffees every Wednesday through the end of May.

There you go -- plenty of free caffeine for ya.

I Know, I Know, It's McDonalds -- But Hey, Free Ice Coffee

Thanks to the O.C. Register's Fast Food Maven for spreading the word on this freebie:

According to the Maven, McDonald's is offering up its new Iced Coffee -- well, 8 oz. versions, at least -- for free through Sunday. The flavors include hazelnut, vanilla, caramel, sugar-free vanilla and regular. Not sure which McDonald's are participating, but the blog believes that most in Southern California are game.

I love free stuff, but I'm also annoyed with McDonald's obnoxious radio ads. In the spots, a group of women decide to take a coffee break at McDonald's. They marvel at their purchase, noting that they could actually pronounce what they were ordering -- and didn't have to drink their beverages with their noses in the air. OK, I get it -- a dig at the supposed upper-class elitism of coffee chains like Starbucks. But puhleeze. Starbucks long ago became mainstream; you can even find packed locations in small, middle America towns. Is ordering a latte really still considered something only snobby elitists order?!

McDonald's Now Overseeing Air Traffic Control at Bob Hope Airport?

Talk about a McDonald's destined to be on the "to see" list the next time my dad is in town. Located just outside the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, this newly built McDonald's sports two faux airport control towers.

Meanwhile, speaking of McDonald's, big points to the first person who can figure out where this retro McDonald's can be found:

Return of the Shamrock Shake

After a year hiatus, the Shamrock Shake is back at area McDonald's. This minty delight is enough to send me to the fast food giant, which I generally avoid (other than occasional breakfasts there when Blogger Toddler catches me in a good mood). I lived for Shamrock Shakes -- available for a limited time at participating McDonald's, the disclaimer goes -- as a kid, but they disappeared for most of the 1990s, as far as I can tell (well, that, and I avoided McDonald's for most of the 1990s, so who knows).

But other than last year's strange disappearance, the Shamrock Shake has been back in local McDonald's for most of the decade. Go get it now; it pretty much disappears after St. Patrick's Day.