On the east side of Portland’s Willamette River is PDX’s Hollywood District.  The area is named after the grand movie palace The Hollywood, which started taking tickets in 1926.  Just two blocks away from the Italian inspired facade of the cinema is a 1960s apartment building that looks as if Pete and Trudy Campbell will walk out any moment.  This is the place Patrick and I call home.

When we chose to relocate to Portland after graduating from the University of Oregon, we spent a weekend looking for a new place to live.  With the assistance of PadMapper.com, we had found a handful of places that were just okay, but then we got a tip from Pat’s aunt, and went to check out this place.  After seeing it, we fell in love.  While I craved a mid-century house, and Patrick wanted city living for the time being, we found a happy medium in this apartment.  Its high ceilings, large windows and open floor plan made it a quintessential mid-century living space, that combined with the fact that it was built in the late ’60s.  We applied the next day, and were approved a week later, but we still had to graduate from college.  The day after we snatched up our diplomas we packed up and headed north to move in.

Remember: clicking the images will enlarge them, making the captions readable.  Enjoy!

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Last night, Patrick, Angelina, Carla of Bohemian Vintage, and I attended Alex Sandra‘s Tiki Madness fashion show at Tony Starlight’s.

With exotic drinks in hand we enjoyed live piano music, and fabulous fashions available from Alex Sandra’s shop.  Near the entrance Alex Sandra had set up jewelry, hats and clothing available for purchase, in addition to the items in the show being for sale. I love that Alex Sandra accentuates the versatility of vintage.  She had women of all shapes and sizes (proving that vintage is not just for the itty bitty!), and demonstrated of how a necklace and brooch can quickly become a bracelet.  Alex Sandra also pointed me out in the crowd, and I was able to come up on stage, share my dress (from Nobody’s Baby in Eugene) and plug both my antique space and my blog!

As for Tony Starlight’s itself, the establishment harks back to the lounges of the 1950s and 60s with live music and entertainment, and is showy without being gaudy, and also intimate and offers you a chance to hob-knob with the owner himself.  We ate dinner before hand and opting to do dessert and drinks there.  I highly recommend the Huckleberry Lemonade!

The next fashion show is sometime in September and is said to be Mad Men themed! OoOo…more details as the event draws closer!

What a week it’s been.  I had several papers due, and have been packing a bit. Only 15 more days until graduation!  Meanwhile, last week I purchased a vintage sofa from Joe Klem in Coburg, and boy was it dusty and dirty! It certainly needed some TLC, and I was more than willing.  So this is how I spent my Saturday!

See what I had to start with?  Seems a bit horrifying?  It’s really not.  And here’s why and how you can do it too next time you find something just as dirty!  First off, if you have an air compressor, get that sucker out and shoot air all over the piece.  It’ll blow a lot of the dirt that is just sitting on top off.  Then, get a stick of some sort (we had some PVC pipe on hand) and beat the cushions.  It’ll lift a lot of the dirt out.  Then vacuum!  And I mean vacuum!  Do it a couple of times.  Note: a Shop-Vac is a much better vacuum to use, however ours was currently loaned to a friend.

Next get yourself some Tuff Stuff.   Seriously. This spray on cleansing foam works miracles!  Spray the Tuff Stuff on, then get a bucket of water and a rag, get the rag wet, ring it out, and scrub the area you Tuff Stuff’ed.  Do this all over the upholstery, continually rinsing your rag.  When it gets difficult to see the bottom of the bucket, it’s time to change the water.

Once you’ve got it all clean, and you should be able to feel the difference, take a good look at it.  For this piece, it had a bad wear mark on the corner, which is really common…So, what did we do?  We took a green Sharpie to it.  I put on a few lines, then my dad took a damp rag and wiped it.

And just a few hours later we finished!  I must say, I’m rather proud of the piece.  I really enjoy working on vintage furniture.  There is something about taking an old, forgotten piece, turning it around and making it shine, whether it’s a piece like this, or stripping and refinishing a piece of Hey-Wake.  As for the buttons, half were missing, and I really wanted to break up the green, so we bought some tan fabric (at EconoSales!), and am having Joe make ‘em.  Then I’m making panel insets of the same fabric to go along the edge of the arms.  I can’t wait to get this into our new place in Portland!

Follow the jump-cut for a quick step-by-step and materials list.

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On Wednesday, Patrick and I arrived at the Eugene Amtrak station, ready to head to Portland for a few days to find a new place to call home. There were about five people in the station as Patrick and I shuffled in, weighted down by our luggage.  My hat faulted a smig as I took in the familiar surroundings.  We set down our luggage on one of the wood benches and I picked my wallet out of my purse and went over to the ticket office.

“Well, aren’t you all dolled up!” the ticket woman said to me as I approached the counter.  I was pleased to be complimented on my appearance, since I take particular pride in my attire when riding the train. Traveling should be a well rounded experience.

I picked up our tickets and sat back down to wait for the Coastal Starlight to pull in.  When the sliver and blue beauty approached, we stepped out and watched as other passengers disembarked to be greeted by friends and family.  Soon, we clambered on with other Eugene passengers.  After making our way up the slim staircase we took our cushy seats and gazed out the window.  After the train got moving we made our way to the viewing car where we sat down at a booth and gazed out the large window, chatted and play some card games as the train chugged northward toward our destination.

I love riding the train.  It really is a fabulous way to travel.  Forget the long check in lines, waits, metal detectors, liquids or no liquids and cramped space of air travel.  It’s easy, fun and you get to see parts of the country you never would otherwise.  Seats are often bigger than that in First Class on an airplane, and the leg room is twice as much, you can get up and walk as you please, bring anything onboard, and sometimes there may be five rows in front or behind  you and the next passenger.  For those traveling in sleepers, the amazing parlor car with its wood and elegant seating is available.  The train also harks back to the mid-twentieth century when train travel really was how people got from place to place…just think about that hilarious I Love Lucy episode when she pulls the emergency break several times or the array of films surrounding train travel.  For me it was also interesting since I have been learning so much about Oregon’s history, and a key element of that is the railroad.  So as we ventured forth through farm country, the state’s capitol of Salem, and forests, I couldn’t help but think about the Chinese labor that laid the original tracks and how the train forever changed how people moved and time itself!  Before the railroad, standard time did not exist!  For me, taking the train is a nice way of reliving a bit of history.

I’m a big fan of Atomic Ranch magazine.  Based in Portland, the magazine focuses on mid-century homes and the people who live in them.  It also highlights companies that cater to those living the “Atomic Lifestyle”.  However, the magazine does not focus on people who live the life, but don’t own the home, and it does not stress the importance of buying from antique shops.  These days many, many pieces of modern furniture can be purchased brand new.  I can’t tell you how many times I see new Noguchi tables in Atomic Ranch spreads. Sure, it’s an awesome table, but, a lot of people have them.  Design within Reach is a store that caters to those too lazy to hunt for unique items and great deals at shops and shows.  There, you can buy coffee tables for hundreds of dollars, and couches for thousands.  It’s silly, and continues to perpetuate the idea that living mid-century means you have to have lots of dough, and I’m here to tell you that is not the case.  Additionally, buying vintage means you’re more likely to be unique.  I came from a family of collectors and restorers, so I knew where to go and how to do restoration work.  When I decided that the 50s and 60s were my niche, I knew I chose an expensive era, especially since I adored the modern works of Eames and Saarinen, and the line of furniture by Heywood Wakefield.  So, how did I furnish an entire apartment in mid-century furniture without breaking the bank?  How can you do it too?  Here are some tips…

1. Have no shame

The mid-century market is rather yuppy-ish with men in thick-rim glasses, black turtlenecks and matchstick thin women in heels that could kill you.  They often turn up their noses to places like Goodwill and St. Vincent de Paul and that garage sale down the street, so these places become your friend.  You’ll find great deals on furniture, lamps, chairs, and just about anything and everything.  I often spend a whole day “making the rounds” hitting each thrift store and scoring.

2. Don’t be afraid to barter

While at antique shows, flea markets, or garage sales, remember that the price tag may not be what you have to pay.  Most people are willing to take down the price at least ten percent.  If it’s $8.00, ask $5.00.  Sometimes if you buy more than one item, people may be more willing to deal.  Just ask “Would you take…” if you have a price in mind, or ask “What’s the best you can do on this?” In this economy, sure, people want money, but they’re also more willing to sell and less likely to hold out for someone who may pay more.

3. If it isn’t perfect, don’t worry

When I bought my first Hey-Wake piece, it was covered in three layers of paint, but I only paid about $15.00 for it (I bought it along with a lettermans jacket, some records, a magazine and some 8-tracks for $35.00).  So if the price is dirt cheap, but it’s in sad shape, don’t worry.  Paint can be removed.  If you find a wood piece that has some rings in it, don’t worry either.  If you happen to have an old car battery laying around, pop open those caps and take a paintbrush, dip it in the acid and gingerly apply it to the ring, and then wipe it off, repeat if necessary.  Be careful because the acid will bleach the wood.  And if the rings don’t come all the way out, it’s not a big deal because you’re going to put stuff on it anyway.

4. Reupholstery is spendy…sometimes

So you’ve found the perfect chair…but it’s in a horrible fabric…or the fabric has some rips in it.  First off, ask yourself, how much is the item?  Is it cheap? Secondly, do you have someone you know who can do the work?  If it’s cheap, and you have someone in mind, give them a call, get an estimate.  Sometimes having something reupholstered costs a fortune.  If you need that couch or chair, a way to save money is to buy the fabric yourself.  This way, the upholster doesn’t have to make a call, and there’s no shipping costs, plus you know exactly what you’re getting.  If you’re in Oregon, I recommend Econo Sales in Springfield to purchase fabric, and Joe Klem in Coburg to do your work.  He’s done all of the stuff I’ve been incapable of doing, additionally, he’s will to trade since he runs an antique shop along with an upholstery shop. For my sofa, I traded my old European style dresser for the labor.  If it’s only a dining chair seat, that can be done yourself with some fabric and a staple gun. Like I did here.

Now that you’ve armed yourself with some tips, go get yourself some deals!

Here we are, February the 14th…bring on the heart shaped boxes of chocolates and roses and red and pink glittered this and that.  Personally, I don’t care for Valentine’s Day.  Usually, such a comment comes from someone who doesn’t have that special someone, and that’s certainly not the case for me, considering I’m getting hitched in ten months.  For me, I don’t like the idea of being told that I need to nice and all lovey-dovey to that special someone on a specific day, it’s not like it’s a day that means something special between me and my partner, like an anniversary or something.  So I don’t really celebrate…except for watching Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown.

But in the collecting world, vintage Valentine cards can bring a pretty penny.  Just take a gander at Ebay.  Vintage Valentines can range from Victorian and Edwardian postcards with elegant images  and script to fun and funky children themed ones of the 1930s through the 60s.  The 1950s brought space themed everything, including Valentines.  Like a lot of other collectibles, condition is everything, and can decrease the value of even the rarest of Valentines.  When framed, vintage Valentines make for great decor items for the month.  But if you’re in the giving mood, thankfully, many vintage Valentines are being reproduced, so you can send some vintage love.

Yesterday afternoon and evening was a very Ellis family moment…being the car buffs and retro enthusiasts that we are, my dad, my brother, Jeremy, his wife, Erin, my boyfriend, Patrick and myself made what I would deem a pilgrimage to the Dallas Motor Vu drive-in to see American Graffiti and Grease. My dad drove his little ’29 Model A, and Jeremy drove his latest toy.  After Mapquesting the trip, we drove all 77.15 miles from Eugene to Dallas along old Highway 99.  Patrick really didn’t have much experience riding in the Model A, but I had, so I rode the trip in the rumble seat, while Patrick took the front seat by my dad where there was less wind.  Even with my hairclip, the wind whipped my face and a tangled mess ensued. (I don’t use scarves, since they always blow off) But thankfully I remembered my hairbrush and at every stop, I brushed it out.

Once we arrived, we were the third and fourth cars in line and took the opportunity to take car pictures in front of the sign.  The Dallas opens its gate at 7 pm, so for this night, that was roughly an hour before the movie would start.  Other cars began to crawl into the line, and we talked with other patrons.

The lot began to fill up as the evening grew darker, and while the cruise in was to be the next night, we figured some other vintage car owners who were in our same situation (unable to come that night) would show up, but they didn’t, and we ended up being the only old cars there, which my brother said was okay, since “It was neat being the center of attention.”  Before the show started, we went to the Snack Bar where we purchased the usual drive-in treats (I’ll admit, I was disappointed, my corn dog was soggy, my Coke was flat, and I didn’t much care for the popcorn – a very far cry from the quality at the 99W). We also took opportunities at taking pictures (more available on my Flickr) and chatting with other folks, and much car talk was exchanged.  But darkness crept upon us, and before we knew it, it was showtime…

When I lived in Tigard, my mom and I enjoyed weekends at the Newburg 99W drive-in.  I loved every second of it, aside from the entire experience, the 99W went all out.  Once the sun set, the owner would announce a hardy welcome, birthdays of patrons (which gave an opportunity to honk horns and flash headlights), followed by a vintage reel of the “Star Spangled Banner” (another time to honk and flash headlights) and then a reel about the decline of drive-ins.  It showed various abandoned drive-ins followed by a bold “CLOSED”.  At the end it read, “America used to have 4,063 drive-ins – Only about 400 survive today” and thanked us for coming to this one.  No such experience existed at the Dallas Motor Vu.  The first thing that came up on the giant screen was an ad for Olay body wash, then the previews.  No announcement, no “Star Spangled Banner” – nothing.  I was sorely disappointed.  I guess one could say I was spoiled, but I didn’t think so.  Intermission came after American Graffiti, and like many others, I dashed to the bathroom.  Upon returning, I noticed no intermission reels, my mind and mouth worked at the same time, “This drive-in sucks” (okay that was a little harsh).  The 99W intermission is filled with great old intermission reels! But after a few more minutes, some did crop up, thankfully!

Oregon has only four surviving drive-ins (Dallas Motor Vu, Milton-Freewater, La Grande and the Newberg 99W), and I see them as a true American icon.  A reminder of a time that in reality was quite complicated, but at the drive-in, it is easy to forget about the red scare and the cult of domesticity, especially while watching flicks that offer up the rose tinted version we all like to remember and look upon with nostalgia.

In the 1950s, the drive-in was a place for teenagers to escape from the clutches of their parents.  Drive-ins experienced a downfall in the late 1960s, and were often resorted to XXX cinemas by the 1970s, but today, the drive-in is making a comeback, and it is now a place to bring the family.  There are more pick ups and hatch back cars where families fold down backseats and pack in the pillows.  Radio stations have replaced the iconic speakers (due to theft) but still, the experience is the same.  So, if you have a drive-in close to you, please attend it.  Click here to find a drive-in close to you.