Hot Diggity Dog’s

Copyright Larry Johnston
Copyright Larry Johnston

“Hot Diggity Dogs”

Chicago, Illinois

When you go to Chicago, everybody knows where North Michigan Street is located. Next to the Chicago River is the Wrigley Building, a Chicago landmark in itself, but across the street to the north and one level down stood a landmark of its own. Hot Diggity Dogs was a small building that sat in the midst of a huge parking area at 251 E. Ohio Street near the corner of Ohio St and Fairbanks. I am not sure when the business opened, but they had one of the best Chicago Hot Dogs around.

While exhibiting at a show across from the Wrigley Building at street level, I went down to the small building and took photos of it, front and back.  Later I was at Navy Pier, just a short walk away and found the old Pepsi truck, where I couldn’t help but take photos of it.  I used the back of the building as a subject and added the Pepsi truck.

“Hot Diggity Dogs” has since been torn down, but I heard that on the last day it was open, they had a line of people several blocks long waiting to be served their last famous hot dog.

Rumor has it, they since opened at a different location..

Prints:
 
ALL PRINTS are printed on canvas and stretched on wooden stretcher bars and prices vary according to size ordered. Most are 2:3 proportion
 
Options:
 
wrapped print- part of the image is wrapped
around the sides of the wood.
 
 
Non-wrapped print- The full image is on the face, with white or black edges
 
 
(frames and hardware are not included)

11″ x 14″Black Edge………. $148.82

11″ x 14″ White Edge………. $148.82

11″ x 14″ Wrapped Edge………. $148.82

 

16″ x 20″ Black Edge ………. $204.72

16″ x 20″  White Edge………. $204.72

16″ x 20″ Wrapped Edge………. $204.72

16″ x 20″ ………. $375.00 original painting on stretched canvas not available.

          

Mustard & Ketchup

Copyright Larry Johnston

Copyright Larry Johnston

Copyright Larry Johnston
Copyright Larry Johnston

 

 

The year was 2003 and the Number One Art Festival in the Country was the Coconut Grove Arts Festival in Miami, Florida. I had exhibited there once before.  When I was accepted for this show, I was asked if I wanted to demonstrate my work at one of the schools in the Miami area. 

I thought that would be fun, so I accepted, but was given a time frame to complete a full painting in the classroom.  I chose a middle school in southwest Miami and had several phone discussions with the art teacher at the school.

Since I had a number of paintings with a diner theme, I decided to paint a related subject, that took less time to demonstrate. The Mustard and Ketchup painting was the first in a series of diner table-settings paintings. I was impressed by the students interest and the questions they asked during the class.

This was an experience that I will cherish as part of my artistic career.

Prints:
 
ALL PRINTS are printed on canvas and stretched on wooden stretcher bars and prices vary according to size ordered. Most are 2:3 proportion
 
Options:
 
wrapped print- part of the image is wrapped
around the sides of the wood.
 
 
Non-wrapped print- The full image is on the face, with white or black edges
 
 
(frames and hardware are not included)

11″ x 14″Black Edge………. $148.82

11″ x 14″ White Edge………. $148.82

11″ x 14″ Wrapped Edge………. $148.82

 

16″ x 20″ Black Edge ………. $204.72

16″ x 20″  White Edge………. $204.72

16″ x 20″ Wrapped Edge………. $204.72

16″ x 20″ ………. $375.00 original painting on stretched canvas not available.

          

Roanoke Weiner Stand

Copyright Larry Johnston
Copyright Larry Johnston

The Roanoke Weiner Stand

Roanoke, Virginia

While exhibiting in a show in Roanoke, Virginia, we found this unique weiner stand. Come to find out, it is Roanoke’s oldest restaurant and one of the most popular.  It opened in 1916.  Since I painted this picture, which was at 110 Market Square, across from the City Market, they have moved into the Market at 1 Market Square and opened another at 3601 Brandon.  They’re known for their grilled hot dogs and chili dogs.

The prints of the painting were very popular, along with the set of four places in Roanoke. (Texas Tavern, Roanoke Weiner Stand, Billy’s Ritz and Agnew Seed Store)

Copyright Larry Johnston
Copyright Larry Johnston

Copyright Larry Johnston
Copyright Larry Johnston

 

I love Roanoke and could live there! It is such a cool town.  Here are a few of my favorite places around town…

Hot Dog King

Billy’s on the Ritz

Texas Tavern

Agnew Seed Store

Angelo’s Hot Dog World

copyright Larry Johnston
copyright Larry Johnston

Angelo’s Hot Dog World,

Ft. Pierce, Florida

During my travels to the southern states to exhibit in Art Festivals, during the Winter months, we regularly stayed at a campground, in Ft. Pierce, Florida. As you know, I am always on the lookout for nostalgic places to paint.

In the early years of going to Florida, which would be in the mid to late 1980s, we discovered Angelo’s Hot Dog World on Hwy 1, in Ft. Pierce.

I think he eventually moved close by to 304 Gardenia Ave, Ft. Pierce, just off Hwy 1.  I no longer have the painting, as it was sold to a young couple, at a show in central Georgia, called Cotton Pickin’ Days.

Copyright Larry Johnston
Copyright Larry Johnston