#the gaytonia

[profrico9663]

I’ve probably posted this before, or else a slightly earlier or later version.  Still, one can’t have too much Gaytonia, can one?  Yes, Gaytonia, pride of the Queen City (which we all know only refers to the presence of the RSS Queen Mary).

#postcard #unused #the gaytonia #long beach #Queen City

[hua-fei-hua]

FORGOY SUNDAY AGAIN LSHDLDJDKJDKDJDKHFKFJFKFJFNFN anyways i havent read moment ch yet but still six sentences plesae🤲🤲

from rhythm 12

No; he was stuck on something the redheaded dumbass himself had said, and not even on purpose. He’d always forget that they were switching to given names in public, and then he’d switch halfway through “Bakugou” into “Katsuki” by portmanteau-ing them into something that sounded way too close to, “Baku, suki~!” which, yes, even in his fucking head sounded window-launching-out-of levels of embarrassing. The dumbass wasn’t even taking Japanese, didn’t even know snippets because his mothers weren’t Japanese— he had no idea what the fuck he was saying. There was no way he knew he sounded like he was confessing every time he called his name. Katsuki paced the band room floor, paying half an eye to Jirou’s rant in sign language (and even less of an ear when she switched to verbal ranting), his brain doing him the wonderful courtesy of putting K— Eijirou’s voice on loop with no way of turning it off. It was frustrating.

fun things about this excerpt-- it takes place like right before rhythm 11, so the big thing that you watched me write on stream was definitely impacted by baku’s mindset and kinda-angsting here. another fun thing is the mention of jirou ranting in sign language: this will come up again in the tour arc

#asks #i just realized i should probably make kouda use primarily sign language bc that would be fun #maybe speak aloud with very small voice with certain people #we went to target yesterday and got me a soft baby teething toy bc i like chewing on things #it is unicorn shaped and we shall see how long it lasts #school started today!!! i wanted to cry bc the prof didn't post the zoom link until five minutes before class but i have anxiety #like you know sometimes i forget about that. that i have anxiety. and depression. i just forget abt it #it's usually fine like whatever. the adhd means i can forget about it bc no impulse control #and also mood swings help with the depression surprisingly except in the winter #you're gonna have fun with moment 15 i promise it's such a good chapterrrrr #i'm also the apartment accountant now but not all my roommates KEEP their FUCKING receipts so it might not have been completely accurate #we spent a lot of money on the apartment holy shit but it's just first month stuffs #we went to the pier today WE FOUND A ***CASTLE*** CALLED ***GAYTONIA*** #i know this means you can absolutely figure out what school i go to now if you thought hard enough n googled the place #but seriously a CASTLE CALLED GAYTONIA. WHO WOULD NOT WANT TO LIVE THERE #stardust-make-a-wish

[longbeachpost]

As we mentioned in “The 7” this week, unless you live there, or have friends that live there, one of the only ways to peek  inside the Gaytonia, one of Long Beach’s most standout historic landmarks (that out-of-place looking castle with the giant neon “Gaytonia” sign glowing just a few blocks from Second Street), is during local nonprofit Steel Magnolias’ annual Home Design Tour.

Since it was founded in 1999, Steel Magnolias has raised more than $5.5 million for children with developmental delays and other special needs. Proceeds from tour tickets will go to the Stramski Children’s Developmental Center at Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital Long Beach.

The tour includes three other stops, a recently renovated “beach retreat,” a “sustainable sanctuary” and a “Spanish beauty” all in Long Beach’s 90803 ZIP code, but we asked architecture history buff and Steel Magnolias spokesperson Elizabeth Borsting—who lived across the street from the building in college—a handful of questions about the Gaytonia because, well, it’s an almost-century-old gothic palace (where studios go for $1,750 and up) we thought you’d want to know more about it.

This Q&A has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Who named the building “Gaytonia” and why, and when was the iconic neon sign installed?

The Gaytonia was named after the building’s original owner, George T. Gayton. It was designed as a hotel-style apartment by local architect Reginald Freemont Inwood, who also built the Belmont Theater (now the Belmont Athletic Club).

The sign was installed when the building was completed in 1930, which makes sense since it was hotel-style housing. The Villa Riviera had a neon sign, too, at one time. When I was first married, my husband and I lived at The Villa and we discovered it hidden away—truth be told, we were snooping.

What are a few hidden details or little-known facts about the building?

For me personally, it’s the history of the building and the people who once lived here, many are probably no longer with us. When the Gaytonia opened it offered maid service, valets, furnishings, a parking lot, linens (like a hotel) and dishes, too. It even had an Olympic-size swimming pool on an adjacent lot that eventually became condominiums, which is too bad.

Sadly, Long Beach hasn’t done a great job preserving its architectural landmarks.

When you lived across the street from the building in college, what stood out to you?

I was fascinated by the Gaytonia. Unfortunately, I never got to know anyone who lived in the building back then, people just came and went. But that experience started me on a path and appreciation for historic architecture, which is why my husband and I lived in the Villa Riviera and which is why we purchased our 1934 home in Belmont Shore. It used to be the rectory for St. Bart’s Church in the 1940s and ‘50s. These places from the past have character and history.

How much does the penthouse cost, as well as the other units?

The penthouse at the Gaytonia has been taken by the owner of the building—after all, he should get first choice, right? It’s not huge, but it’s tastefully decorated with a huge terrace overlooking Belmont Shore. All the units are rental units.

But on our tour, guests can enjoy a glass of champagne (for a nominal fee) and a playlist of torch songs while lounging on the penthouse terrace. How fun is that? We have another unit at the Gaytonia that is part of the tour, too, and it’s for rent. Who knows, someone may walk away with a signed lease and new address by the time our home tour is over.

What do you think tour goers will get a kick out of on Saturday?

The Gaytonia is one of four stops on the tour—we also have homes in Alamitos Heights, Belmont Heights (not far from the Gaytonia) and Naples Island. We just added another unit to the Gaytonia stop. I think attendees will really get a sense of ‘How Long Beach Lives” our theme for this year.

We have a sustainable home that produces the same amount of energy that it uses, so people who are passionate about creating a smaller footprint will enjoy seeing how it can be done. We have another house that has left no detail to chance—it’s new construction with old-world charm —the owners have done an amazing job. And we also have a lovely reimagined beach retreat overlooking the canals of Naples, a former duplex now a single story home this house was made for entertaining.

Then there is the Gaytonia, an iconic structure that feels as if it belongs in a fairytale. The craftsmanship and details speak to a bygone era—it’s truly amazing.

Tickets are $50 with proceeds benefiting the Stramski Children’s Developmental Center at Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital Long Beach. Please wear flat, rubber shoes. The tour runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and begins at 5411 E. El Cedral St. and ends with a post-tour reception. For tickets and more info, visit the Eventbrite link here and Steel Magnolias website here or call 562-331-8007.

Looking for more things to do this weekend? Check out our weekly column “The 7” here.

The 7: Things to do this weekend including… adults acting like they’re 12

The post Q&A: Fun facts on famed Gaytonia castle and how you can see it this weekend appeared first on Long Beach Post.

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#Long Beach #Long Beach Post

[profrico9663]

#postcard #unused #retro #long beach #california #gaytonia #the queen city

[longbeachpost]

It’s been used as a backdrop for a Sublime music video. It’s been the tongue-in-cheek joke for Long Beach’s gay community: “That sign should be hung as a gateway to the Broadway bars.” And, perhaps most importantly, it’s an architectural gem that has survived for nearly 90 years.

And now, thanks to an architecture tour taking place on Mother’s Day, attendees can not only get to explore the inside of the building but visit its penthouse, a space long withdrawn from the public eye.

Originally constructed for about $100,000 in 1930—a nearly unheard of expense but, then again, Long Beach had a penchant for constructing absurdly costly buildings back in the day—the space initially attracted the city’s naval officers (when the U.S. Navy had a heavy presence here in Long Beach) thanks to its bachelor-friendly amenities, including a swimming pool, steam bath, and lounge, along with dishes, furniture, and linen included with each apartment. 

Built in the Normandy Revival-style, Gaytonia is technically speaking a castle: Like the Villa Riviera and the long-gone Pacific Coast Club, it is largely built of stone, a material that its designer and contractor, George T. Gayton, was obsessed with (hence his elaborate Belmont Theatre, constructed in 1939). Its use of turrets, conical caps, and corbels—all common characteristics of Medieval architecture—combined with more contemporary practices for the time made the building in Belmont Shore stand out even more given it was placed atop a hill.

The fifth annual, self-driven Steel Magnolias Home Design Tour takes place on Saturday, May 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Tickets, which incllude four homes and a post-tour reception, are $50 per person and available online at www.thesteelmagnolias.org.

Brian Addison is a columnist and editor for the Long Beach Post. Reach him at [email protected] or on social media at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

The post Here’s your chance to step inside Long Beach’s famed Gaytonia penthouse appeared first on Long Beach Post.

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