From 2004-2006 I did interviews for a book about a famous rock musican. One of my favorite perks of the job was the strange work related trips I would get to take.

I was planning a trip to the west coast from New York City (where I lived at the time) anyway. Days before leaving I made an interview contact who lived in California and we decided to continue the interview in person.

I had made arrangements to interview Michael from New York and he graciously arranged a trip to Pioneer Town to meet an esteemed Art director/designer.

I was nervous about traveling with strangers, but both had a mischievous sense of humor and we got along right away.

When we finally arrived in Southern California nothing was open and we were starving, so we took a trip to Applebee's which I suspect was uncharacteristic for all of us.

We had a blast teasing the waitress. Michael convinced her that he had Madonna on the cell phone.

She was bummed out that it was only christine's daughter on the phone. After leaving the restaurant we arrived at Pioneer Town, our final destination, exhausted and ready for sleep.

The next morning I woke up here:

We stayed at the Pioneer Town Inn, a weird old hotel behind Pappy and Harriet's roadhouse saloon that is chock a block full of old Western movie memorabilia.

Pioneer Town was built in 1946 as a set for Western movies. Coutnless movies were shot there, including Annie Oakley, The Cisco Kid and Range Rider. he movie set was to provide a place for the actors to live, and have their homes used as part of a movie set. Some of the original investors in the town were Roy Rogers, Dick Curtis and Russell Haydn.

From April-October there are old western gunfight reenactments.