When I asked what you wanted to see on the blog, someone asked to share our transition to Southern California from Oregon, and discuss if there were any regrets, differences between the two locals, and any tips for those thinking of moving. I’ve been working on this post for awhile, but was on the fence about actually posting it. But I got another request today, so I decided to move forward and publish it.
Patrick and I are in Portland for a couple of days for his work, and I tagged along to spend some time with friends, see my dad, and do a bit of shopping. I felt it was a perfect opportunity to share more of my vintage postcard collection! This time I bring you vintage Portland postcards!
I can’t help but say that I fee like these postcards totally lie about what the sky looks like in Portland! It’s not blue with little fluffy clouds. It’s more just grey…because the sky is just full of clouds! Seeing blue sky is a rarity in Portland, and when you do, you instantly think the city had a population boom! Even as I type, it’s grey out, with a chance of rain.
Anyway, I’m off to shop!
Other Vintage Postcard Posts
Los Angeles
Palm Springs
After only a month in Orange, Patrick and I had to make a trip back to Portland. Our trip was mainly for a friend’s wedding, but also for Patrick’s work, and it also happened to fall around the time of the October antique show at Portland’s Expo Center.
I honestly didn’t find too much at Expo, but I also did a bit of shopping around Portland, and I thought I would share with you my treasures that I brought back home!
The October show is an interesting and fun one, while not having as much clothing as the summer show, the October show boasts a lot of Halloween decor (as it takes place the weekend before Halloween) and Christmas decor as it is the last big show before the holiday. I was tempted by a great number of pieces for both holidays, but ultimately only came home with two Halloween pieces, which will sadly have to be tucked away until next year. The first was this dapper paper cat.
The other piece of Halloween decor is this redheaded witch pin-up from Petty. I often see this piece as a calendar page, which is smaller, so I was delighted to find this larger centerfold.
And speaking of records, I also bought this Disneyland Haunted Mansion album, which also features an illustrated story too.
What is so wonderful and interesting about this story inside is that it features the legendary Hatbox Ghost, even describing the ghost’s gag of his head disappearing and reappearing in this hatbox. It is this creative gag that was the ghost’s downfall, as late 60s technology proved not up to the task to make the gag convincing. He was removed from the attraction very shortly after the Haunted Mansion’s grand opening in August of 1969, and has since seeped into legend and become a beloved icon of Haunted Mansion fans. Sometimes I wonder why Disneyland does not bring back the Hatbox Ghost, as I think the technology of today would make the gag work now.
I added to my anti-Vietnam War/LBJ button collection. These ones are some of the harshest ones I’ve come across. You can read and see more of my collection here.
I couldn’t help swinging by my old haunt at Antique Alley to peek in to see what was new and visit with my pals there. While walking about, I stumbled upon an original of my favorite game ever, Barbie’s Queen of the Prom. The game was reproduced in 1994 and it quickly became a staple of slumber parties at my house. The funny thing about the game is that the boyfriend I always had to have (as part of the game includes getting a boyfriend) looks a lot like Pat in some ways, redish hair and glasses!
I also bought two blouses, though they have already managed to land themselves in my repairs pile! But I’m sure you’ll see them soon!
Well that wraps up my treasures from Portland! I hope to share more of our apartment with you soon too!
In this case, “Aloha” means “Goodbye”. Last night Patrick and I had a small going-away party at one of our favorite bars in town, Hale Pele. The fabulous tiki atmosphere I felt was fitting as we were traveling to a more tropical climate, and it gave me a very good excuse to wear my new-to-me Hawaiian frock!
Hale Pele offers the Chieftain’s Hut for reservations, a large, somewhat enclosed, booth located in the back of the bar. I had such a swell time chatting with friends that I really just failed miserably at taking photos, aside from these that Patrick snapped before heading over. I adore Hale Pele because it is so incredibly well themed, with the perfect level of kitsch, and offers incredible drinks, in addition to small, but tasty Hawaiian dishes.
I picked up this dress shortly after getting back from our vacation/secret mission. The reality of moving had set in when we returned, and I wasted no time in going through my closet and pulling out items to part with. Living in the Pacific Northwest automatically means you fill your closet with a buffet of wool skirts and dresses, and a plethora of coats, as nine months out the year a coat is all people will see of you! And many of the items would serve little to no purpose in Orange County, so I promptly filled up two bags to take to Sarah at Simply Vintage and traded in a stack of wool for this sarong that had been tempting me the moment it came into the shop. It fit like a glove and I adore the color palette.
It was wonderful to hang out with so many of my friends. It was also the first time that many of my friends from different circles met and while I initially dreaded the notion, everyone got along swimmingly! I’m in a mix of emotions as I am still very, very excited about the move, and the notion of doing more things, but I know there is a lot I am going to miss about Portland, especially my friends. I will miss using the excuse “I live in Portland” that I would use on myself if I was concerned about an outfit. Portland’s motto (which was stolen from Austin) is “Keep Portland Weird” and there are quite a few Portlanders who do their job of keeping Portland weird, and I felt that any time I was concerned about an outfit, I just told myself that anything I wore was okay because I lived in Portland. I will also miss the extreme ease of living here, especially in my neighborhood, where I am across the street from a Trader Joe’s, two blocks from a Whole Foods and the antique mall where I vended, which coincidentally has a Postal Annex located upstairs, which made shipping Etsy orders incredibly easy. There is a swell movie theatre just a block away, as was my dentist. And I was minutes from downtown. But easy living isn’t all there is to life. What is the point in easy living if you don’t actually live? And it is this sentiment that really made the decision to move. The fact that weekends were spent shopping, at the movies, or sewing, but when we went on vacation, we were way more active than we were at home, with a laundry list of places to visit, and we would always leave with only a handful crossed off. Today as I pack, I am trying to think of all of the wonderful places we’ll visit, the patio atmosphere I want to create, the frequent visits to Disneyland, and the friends I already have in southern California, and the new ones I hope to make. I also know that the goodbyes I made last night isn’t forever. I have so many friends who love Disneyland, and will visit, additionally, with the wonders of the internet it is so easy to keep in touch and up to date on what’s happening with your friends.
Outfit
Dress: Sun Fashions of Hawaii, Simply Vintage, Portland, Oregon
Nude Fishnets: Oroblu, Nordstorm
Shoes: Jeffery Campbell by way of Buffalo Exchange, Portland, Oregon
Purse: Thrifted
Coconut Bracelet: Antique Alley, I think…
Oh my, it’s been awhile hasn’t it? Well, truth be told, I really haven’t been feeling all that great. I had a recent visit to the dentist and I’ll spare you the unpleasantness, but I was in a bit of pain. Then shortly after I wrenched my neck somehow! So I just wasn’t in the mood to go out and do much, let alone take photos. But I’m feeling much better and today Patrick and I went to Wanderlust to celebrate the shop turing two!
Shop owner, Vanessa, offered tasty mini cupcakes for the celebration which I happily enjoyed while I browsed her racks of delightful pieces of vintage. Ultimately I walked out with a sheer yellow top that I can’t wait integrate into my wardrobe. Now, on to show off one of my new favorite pieces from my closet, the “Western Town” skirt!
As many of you know, I’m a western wear/motif fiend, but I’m also getting obsessed with these scenic border print skirts! This one is my latest addition to the collection of western themed border print skirts (the others being a covered wagon print, and the stagecoach print). And the added bonus is that the hem on the inside still features the selvedge edge which reads “John Wolf Textiles, Inc. ‘Western Town'”. John Wolf Textiles also printed the stagecoach design as well, among many other border prints.
Speaking of these western themed border prints, awhile ago I was on Instagram and a friend tagged me in a sale of a border print skirt featuring tipis! I was crushed to discover the skirt had already sold. I’m making a plea with all of my fellow vintage lovers (that includes you, dear readers!) that if you ever run across this skirt let me know, please!
Outfit
Blouse: Bohemian Vintage (now Yours), Portland, Oregon
Skirt: Vintagecritter
Shoes: Payless, AGES ago!
Cowboy Boot Earrings: Gift
Cowboy Brooch: Classic Hardware, via Naked City, Portland, Oregon
Bangles: Here and there
Purse: Flea market
Over the weekend one of my favorite movies showed at The Hollywood, Disney’s The Rocketeer. It was an early afternoon screening, so I decided to go for a more casual look, instead of getting gussied up.
The Rocketeer remains one of my favorite films over the years for its endearing characters and great story, and while I also love the comics, there is just something about the movie that I like more. Sadly, its initial box office numbers were rather sad, though over the years The Rocketeer has developed a cult like following, especially at comic conventions. Over the last few years there have been rumblings of Disney attempting a remake, and I pray to god they don’t. I really have my reservations on the matter because since when has a Disney remake ever been better than its original? Alice in Wonderland, Escape to Witch Mountain, and most recently the entirely new twist with Sleeping Beauty in Maleficent, anyone? These remakes also have me cringing over the news that the next live action Disney films on the table are Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, the latter of which being my absolute favorite Disney film.
How about you? Are you a fan of The Rocketeer? How do you feel about the possibilities of a remake? Or about these live action remakes of animated classics?
Outfit
Peasant Blouse: FabGabs
Jeans: Vivian of Holloway via Animal Traffic, Portland, Oregon
Shoes: Miss L Fire
Purse: Thrifted by my dad!
Necklace: Birthday present from my dear friend Alicia
Bangles: Here and there
Last summer drive-ins across America faced a crisis: switch to digital or go dark. Thirty-five millimeter film met the cutting room for the final time at the end of 2013, and many drive-ins had not been able to make the costly switch to digital, but a savor showed up in the form of Honda. Honda, under the title of Project Drive-In, said they would donate digital projectors to five drive-ins (the later announced they were keeping the voting open to save a few more) in America, based on your votes! “My” drive-in (that is the drive-in closest to where I live), the 99W, was in the running, and I blogged about Project Drive-In last August, and asked for you to vote for the 99W, unless of course your hometown drive-in was in the running. Thankfully the 99W WON! Getting a new digital projector installed during their off-season this last winter! I would like to thank each and every one of you who voted for the 99W, and it is thanks to you that Patrick and I got to go to this beloved icon last night.
Patrick and I had been meaning to get to the drive-in, now that we own a car, but other commitments prevented us from attending until last night. After pulling in, Patrick and I walked around the property and ended up chatting with Brian, the owner of the 99W, and he invited us up to the projection booth to take a peek at the new digital projector, a tombstone for film that he made, as well as get quite the view from atop the concession stand!
Brian shared some of the background about the 99W with us, that the area was originally all orchards, and the battles that the drive-in continues to face, such as ambient light from continued development around the property. It was a true treat to visit the projection booth and look out on all of the cars waiting for dusk as the cottonwood trees waved in the breeze.
If you live in the Portland-Metro area, I can’t encourage you enough to visit the 99W. It’s a true treasure of our area. If you don’t live in the Portland-Metro area, remember that Oregon has the Milton-Freewater Drive-In, Dallas’ Moto Vu Drive-In, and a drive-in in La Grande. Not in Oregon? Use Drive-ins.com to find a drive-in close to you!
Outfit
Blouse: Wanderlust, Portland, Oregon
Jeans: Double Rivets by Freddies of Pinewood
Mocs: Thunderbird by Minnetonka
Belt: I don’t remember…
