Last night brought a wave of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton fans to the local cinemas to see Burton’s latest creation, his twisted take on Lewis Carrol’s classic, Alice in Wonderland. And of course, I was there.  Personally, I’ve always hated Alice in Wonderland, especially the Disney animated version, however I quite enjoyed the TV show Adventures in Wonderland.  But, I have long been a Depp and Burton fan, and with them composer Danny Elfman and costume designer Colleen Atwood go hand in hand, and when this quartet get together, they can do no wrong.

I’ll be honest, I have not read the original novel, I’ve had no real desire to, so to me, watching the midnight premiere of Alice was just like being Alice herself, stepping into Wonderland with no expectations (or at least very few) at all, and of course, was pleasantly surprised by it all.  I adore Burton’s warped trees and other fauna, he takes the strangeness of Carrol to the ninth degree, and you never know what’s around the corner.  And Atwood’s costumes are stunning.  I left the cinema with a slew of ideas for costumes.

I understand that Burton isn’t everyone’s cup of tea (no pun intended)  But there is no denying his intense level or artistic imagination, creativity and ability to make fantasy worlds a reality.

Of course, being the theatre kids we are, we couldn’t help dressing up, and what fun it was.  However, I can’t express the amount of laughter and joy a few 50 cent fake mustaches brought while waiting in line…

I don’t know about you, but gearing up for this Christmas has been much more hectic than normal. Mostly due to the fact I’m juggling Christmas and wedding planning.

Sunday, my mom, Patrick, and I headed up to Portland where Monday, my mom, my maid of honor, Megan and I set forth dress hunting.  The first place we checked out was Xtabay along Clinton street.  A fabulous, high quality vintage clothing shop, Xtabay has extended to offer up vintage wedding dresses as well. While I didn’t find my wedding dress there, I found a wonderful “going away” dress, which had the original store tags on it!  Cost? $98, more than I am used to spending (okay, my mom actually paid for it), but worth every single cent since it’s so perfect and in such glorious condition!  I also found a great pair of vintage screw-on earrings and broach to match for $10.  Sadly, I didn’t snap any pictures of me in the dress, but here is (sorta) a picture of the dress, it’s the turquoise one in the background.  The dress can also be seen here with a stunning coat, which I would have bought, had it not already been sold!  But let me tell you, if you’re searching for high quality (we’re talkin’ like new quality) vintage Xtabay is the place to be! Liz, the owner, carries only womens clothing, shoes and accessories, and is very, very cordial and an absolute delight to talk with. And if she doesn’t have what you want at that moment, sign her book with your contact info and what you have in mind, and she’ll get back to you if something comes in!

Tuesday, Patrick and I hit up the Kennedy School and Edgefield McMenamins as possible wedding venues.  We are both keen on the Kennedy School, and have crossed Edgefield off our list, mainly due to its remote location.  We’re going to be looking at more locations in January.

Also that day we visited Terry Schrunk Plaza, which is the park located across the street from Portland’s City Hall.  Why did we stop there?  Because Schrunk was a key player in my Vice in the Rose City  research essay (working on some final touches before posting it).  He was sheriff for a long while, and then became mayor, despite his suspected involvement in the corrupt pay-off system between Portland’s underworld figures and police and politicians. It was windy that day, so my hair is mussed up…oh well.

Wednesday I headed to my mom’s house in Salem and checked out a local bridal shop there where I found my dress! While it’s not vintage like I had hoped, it is in a very 40s Hollywood glam style.  Of course, no pictures will be posted until the big day next December!  The store carries a selection of dresses to try on and then order, along with a selection of clearance/discontinued dresses, which is where I found mine.  The cost? $398.  Not too bad, but of course still a lot.  But my major goal in this wedding is to go local;  venue, cake, attire, jewelry, etc. Which means getting all I need for my bridal ensemble without once stepping into a David’s Bridal, and so far I’ve done that.

As for today, it’s last minute shopping, wrapping and scouting for things we want to buy the day after Christmas.  I hope you all have a wonderful and safe Christmas!! Merry Christmas!

So, Wednesday my dad suggested going to Disneyland for Thanksgiving.  He hands me his credit card, says “If we don’t do this trip now, I don’t ever see it happening again after you get married”.  So, now $839.06, later, he and I are heading to California in a week.  We’re driving down Monday morning, and seeing family Tuesday, then spending Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in the park before driving back Saturday.  I’ve been to Disneyland the day after Thanksgiving in the past, and I highly recommend it, because no one is there, and I mean no one.  Why you may ask? Because everyone is out shopping! You can get on to rides such as the Matterhorn without wait, and ride it again without getting off if no one is in line!

As for Thanksgiving itself, it’s never been a big holiday for my family.  Its only had significance because that is when we break out the Christmas decorations.  For Thanksgiving dinner though, we are still going to eat someplace nice.  My first thought: Disneyland’s Blue Bayou aka, the restaurant inside Pirates of the Caribbean.  I ate there the last time I was at Disneyland, and remember their gumbo being very, very good. Well, I just got off the phone with Disney Dining Services, and 1. I couldn’t get a reservation until 9:15 in the evening and 2. the operator said he would never recommend eating there. But he did suggest Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen located in Downtown Disney, where I was able to get a 6:15 reservation.  He even recommended a waitress for me! He was very, very nice.

I think this will be my twelfth trip to Disneyland, if not my fourteenth.  I’ve lost count. Isn’t that sad?

Well, I’ve been engaged since Friday actually, but I didn’t post about it when I discussed Big Bad Voodoo Daddy because I hadn’t yet told all of my family, and I felt they should know first.  Anyhow, I’m thrilled.  Patrick and I have known each other since we were Sophomores in high school, and after a few dates our Junior year, we began going out in our Senior year and we’ve been together ever since. As you can see, he proposed in a photobooth, which actually does have meaning to us, so it wasn’t totally random.  It’s also nice to capture the moment on film.

Today, Patrick went and talked to my dad, and it went smoothly, except for my dad did ask how we intended on paying for it.  But right now, we are planning for a date in December 2010, which gives us time to save.  As for other details…we know the color scheme and theme, Tiffany blue and Oregon.  I’m thinking a cake of the Portland skyline similar to one that was done on Ace of Cakes for Baltimore.

My goodness, what an October it was.

Tomorrow, Patrick and I are taking the train up to Portland to see Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at the Wonder Ballroom in Portland.  Last time I’ve saw BBVD, it was New Years Eve at the Walt Disney Concert Hall (designed by Frank Gehry) in LA, which wasn’t a bad show,  BBVD is quite entertaining, however it wasn’t a dancing event, it was all seated and no photography was allowed.  The Wonder Ballroom though is quite a different venue from the LA Phil.  Seating is only in the balcony, and the floor is going to be wide open, so the place will be swingin’.  If you’ve never heard of BBVD, I’d say you’re sure missing out, especially if you dig swing and big band.  With eight albums out (including an impressive Christmas album), they write the majority of their own stuff, and they’re fun upbeat songs with great lyrics.  With seven members, they put on a good show and don’t mess around; they all dress is double breasted suits, wide ties and fedoras.  Scotty heads up the band, but it’s Glen “the Kid” who I love.  I hope it’s a good show.  Patrick and I are getting the 5:30 am train so we can spend some time in the city we both love so much.  I also hope to check out locations where events related to my research paper happened.  We’ll return Saturday morning.

As for other things going on in life…I had my WWII mid-term exam today, and Monday brings my American West mid-term.  Plus, I’m still swamped with research for my Portland Vice essay.  And did I mention I’m also hosting a Halloween party?  And I have family in town this weekend?  It’s a nightmare to say the least.  But I will post Saturday blogging about decorating retro for Halloween, and about the concert.

I hope you have a lovely and safe Halloween weekend!

Well, I know it’s been awhile since I last updated, but with good reason.  I’m literally buried in corruption, or rather papers discussing corruption…

For the last week, I’ve been in and out of the library making photocopies out of old Life magazines, finding newspaper articles in the microfilm department, downloading and printing Portland City Club reports (seriously a solid inch of paper so far), as well as hunting down out of print books.  Then I have to read it all! *sigh* Anyhow, that’s pretty much all my life has been.  But never the less, it’s been an interesting and eye-opening journey so far.  I’ve been in contact with several other writers on the topic, including Phil Stanford, the author of Portland Confidential.  And I’ve put in a request to talk to the Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Wallace Turner who wrote the expose that shocked the Rose City.

Additionally, I just got done with an essay on Lewis and Clark for my American West class, and next week brings midterms…This just ain’t cool, Daddy-O. Anyhow, on a lighter note, tomorrow I’m heading up to Portland, but not for research, but for the October Palmer-Wirfs antique show at the Expo Center! The last show in July offered up a lot of reasonably priced goodies.  So I gotta get up bright and early tomorrow morning!

What a week it’s been and still will be!  I’ve been working a lot on my seminar paper, Vice in the Rose City, mentioned a littler later on, plus I have been asked to hand address some envelopes for my boyfriend’s boss, 300 of ‘em, but at $9.00 an hour, I can’t really complain.

As for my essay, so far I’ve been using Phil Stanford’s book, Portland Confidential as a kind of guide to write my paper.  Several pages in Portland Confidential are images of newspaper pages, yet they were hard to read.  Thankfully, the university library has loads of newspapers on microfilm and yesterday I had my first experience in the microfilm collections. Sheesh, what a trip.  But it’s also very nostalgic.  Flipping…er, scrolling…through all of the old 1950s newspapers is a real window into the past.  From the ads, to the movies being released, to the photos of people, back when men wore hats and women wore gloves.  I only spent about an hour getting to know the system – I had a few hitches (i.e. trying to get the roll into the machine) but I eventually got three stories printed that I wanted about the senate hearings.  I’ll need to make a few more trips in the near future.

As for other aspects of life…last night Patrick and I  returned to the WOW Hall to see the Koffin Kats. There were two opening acts, Toxic Zombie of Portland and The Sawyer Family of Eugene.  With zombie make-up and a pink zebra fabric covered upright bass, Toxic Zombie certainly qualifies as psychobilly rather than rockabilly.  And while a lot more hardcore than I normally go for, they were highly entertaining, as well as very nice.  The bass player even got into the mosh pit for the artists who followed. The Sawyer Family I expected to be rockabilly, yet turned much more punk, despite the upright bass.  Have I mentioned how much I love upright basses?  Their slow songs though were outstanding and their performance on stage was stunning.  As for the headliner, the Koffin Kats, I already knew what I was in for, rockabilly, but a little heavier on the rock part.  Their lead singer, who also plays upright bass has that classic rockabilly twangy voice you’d expect, however their music is a little more on the rock side than say Brian Setzer’s solo work.  But nevertheless, I enjoyed myself since it’s always nice to go ultra rock out now and again. If you want to see more pictures, just check out my Flickr.  I did pick up a shirt (I usually can’t leave a concert without one). How adore able is a little demon kitty playing with an eyeball?

As for today, Patrick has his gallery opening at the student union, and tonight, my dad and I are see the Broadway show, The Rat Pack is Back! So, a review of that to come.  Then tomorrow, some friends and I are headed to Lone Pine Farms to do the corn maze and pick pumpkins.  Should be loads of fun!

Imagine Elvis Presley…now, imagine if Elvis were a commander on a space mission, but instead of those drab NASA uniforms, he was given an awesome rockabilly space uniform and sang out about space girls, rockets and planets – you now have The Phenomenauts.

The music of the Phenomenauts is pretty much this: Sci-fi infused rockabilly.  Their songs and their look are all about space and science – sounds geeky? It may be, but it’s also awesome.  Dressed in custom made uniforms, the Phenomenauts are led by their fearless leader, Angel Nova, who is lead vocals and guitar, the band also includes keyboard, another guitar, drums, and an stand-up bass, played by Deck Chief Nick Wayzar – who is crazy to say the least.

Last night, Patrick and I had the honor of seeing them – my second time, and Pat’s third.  Opening with fog and laser pointers, the Phenomenauts don’t do anything half-way.  They come with their own uniforms, incredible mike-stands, and banners.  Plus fog machines, flashing lights, a modified leaf blower that blows out toilet paper (sounds strange, but it’s fun and hilarious) and a giant balloon of Earth when they play “Earth is the Best”.  Their songs and production put them in league with only one other band: The Aquabats, who are more ska, but it is the rockabilly vibe of the Phenomenauts that makes them so fantastic.

They have three CDs out, and are also into vinyl.  I purchased their vinyl copy of Re-Entry, which is their second album, and got each member to sign it.  Needless to say, I had a blast, and if you’re into rockabilly (and sci-fi) you’ll love The Phenomenauts.

This marked the first of three concerts I’m seeing this month…next Thursday brings The Koffin Kats (who I’ve never seen before), and on the 30th, Patrick and I are heading to Portland to see Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, plus I’m also see the Broadway show, The Rat Pack is Back next Friday with my dad!  Sheesh!

Well, here we are, in October.  Classes just started on Tuesday, and I feel like I’m drowning already.  I’m taking classes about the American West, and World War II (both 400 level history courses), in addition to my history research seminar.  In my seminar, which is about Oregon History, we are asked to choose a topic (a fairly narrow one) and then write a 25 page research paper, from mostly primary sources.  Thankfully, our library has a rather impressive selection of manuscripts and documents.  My topic, you ask? Vice in the Rose City.  That’s Portland for all you non-Oregonians.  So, that is something that I’ll continue to post about.

Meanwhile, if you’ve been following, you’ll have noticed from previous entries that my dad and I have been making life-size Nightmare before Christmas characters for Halloween and Christmas decor.  Just yesterday, we finished up everything and got it all up.

Total cost: $460.03.  My dad thinks about 500 hours was put into this between him, myself, and the couple days that Patrick came to work.  Needless to say, I’m very satisfied with the outcome.  We also created a Santa Jack and the coffin sleigh and skeleton reindeer as well as other Christmas elements which will go up around Thanksgiving.

Meanwhile, today some friends and I check out Bring Recycling in Springfield.  The place is a treasure trove for people who are renovating or are crazy artists.  Bring has everything from light fixtures to lockers to toilets to school desks – there was even a boat and the vintage weight-loss machine as demonstrated by moi on the left.  This type of machine was very popular in the 1950s and 60s, and were often depicted in pin-ups.  Whether they worked or not is another question.  I would have purchased it, had it not been $75.00.

But I didn’t leave Bring empty-handed.  I purchased another retro star patterned glass lamp cover for $2.00 and a small copper bullet shaped lamp (which works) for $4.00.

I also found about 40 drawer pulls in two different boomerang shapes, all at $0.25 a piece! I don’t even have drawer pulls in our apartment, but I couldn’t pass ‘em up because I may have a place in the near future that has drawer pulls.

Overall, it was a successful trip.  Tomorrow is the Canby Swapmeet, but I’m missing out because I have work. Oh well.

No Wednesday Wardrobe today, instead I want to take time to reflect on an actor that defined a generation with only three films: James Dean

On this day, in 1955, James Dean and his mechanic Rolf Wutherich set out for a race in Salinas in Jimmy’s new Porsche Spyder that he nicknamed “Little Bastard” (the name and number 130 was painted by George Barris just days before).  They had lunch with Jimmy’s father and a few hours later, just outside of Bakersfield, Jimmy got a speeding ticket – 65 in a 55 mph zone – it is the last time he will sign his name.  Then at 5:45, at the intersection of routes 46 and 41 near Cholame, Jimmy collided with a Ford that is turning, it was driven by Donald Turnupseed, who walked away from the crash, Wutherich was thrown from the car, surviving, but Jimmy died instantly.

There have been many stories surrounding James Dean and his infamous Porsche.  Some claimed the car was cursed, some say Jimmy had a death wish (while others strongly are against that claim, saying he was a young man who loved life).  But there are many ironic events surrounding the time of Jimmy’s death.  On September 17, while on the set of Giant, Jimmy did a commercial about driving safety for the National Highway Safety Committee.  The last thing he said was “Take it easy driving. The life you might save might be mine.”  Additionally, the last scene that he filmed was the “Last Supper” scene for Giant.

Born on February 8, 1931 in Indiana, James Byron Dean was the only child of Mildred and Winton Dean.  The family moved to California and in 1940, Mildred died of cervical cancer.  Jimmy accompanied his mother’s body back to Fairmount, Indiana and Jimmy then lived with his aunt, Ortense and uncle, Marcus who owned a farm.  During his growing up, Jimmy was involved with theatre, speech and debate, as well as being on the baseball and basketball teams in high school.

After graduating in 1949, he left for California were he attended Santa Monica City College and UCLA, participating in theatre and lands his first “professional” acting job – a TV commercial for Pepsi, where he drops a coin into a player piano and he and claps his hands while singing “Pepsi-Cola hits the spot”. He receives $30.00.  Jimmy did other theatre and TV movie specials while in California, but late 1951, on the advice of his acting coach, heads to New York.

In New York, Jimmy continued to do more bit parts for film and stage, including a Broadway production, See the Jaguar, which lasted three nights.  Meanwhile he also auditions  for and joins the esteemed Actor’s Studio.  This is where he met fellow actor Martin Landau.  In 1954, he took to Broadway again with The Immortalist, however he doesn’t spend much time there either, because he signs on for East of Eden, his first major role and heads back to California.  The role will also earn him an Oscar nomination – the first ever posthumous nomination in Oscar history.  In early 1955, he beagn shooting Rebel without a Cause, his most famous role and shortly after is signed for Giant, which earns him another posthumous Oscar nomination.

Jimmy’s road through Hollywood was also was tainted with his many difficult romances, most notably with Pier Angeli, whom many say was Jimmy’s true love.  Angeli broke off the relationship due to much pressure by her mother, since Jimmy was not Catholic.  Angeli married singer Vic Damone, and it is said that Jimmy went to the church where the wedding was being held and as the couple exited the church, he revved his motorcycle and sped off, though many friends, including Dennis Hopper believe Jimmy would not have done this.  Additionally, many have claimed that Jimmy was a homosexual or at least bisexual, but others believe that any homosexuality that Jimmy may have been involved with was only to chalk up with experience for future acting positions.

My fascination with James Dean began at an early age.  I had for a long while already been interested in oddities such as Jack the Ripper, and the Titanic, along with my passion for the 50s and 60s.  I think Jimmy fascinated me on the same level as the Titanic – each had such potential, each epic and their fates so ironic with their expectations and rumors surrounding them.  When I was eight, we went to the James Dean memorial, which is located at the crash site, where I bagged some dirt at the location.  The bag still sits on my bookshelf were I keep my Jimmy books (I own every biography of him published).  He had such an air of mystery about him, along with being a fantastic actor of a time period I love and he raced cars and was damn attractive to boot.

Obviously, I could go on and on about Jimmy…but I’ll end on this: James Dean’s short life was filled with complications and rumor.  Many who had brief encounters with him or actual relationships seem to enjoy embellishing upon them endlessly, each claiming to have know the “real” Jimmy.  His short, yet explosive, career has made him the stuff of legend, and will forever remain iconic.