E Pluribus Unum

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

I was thrilled and surprised to learn that the folks at Rate Your Burn had named me one of Boston’s 16 best dance instructors for 2012!

So, why is my subject a Latin quote from the Great Seal of the United States, instead of something like “Hurray!” or “Yay!”? It means, as you all know, “From Many, One”* and I think the honor needs to go to the entire staff at B.A.B.E. because the excellence there does not come from any one of us (including me) alone.

So I want to thank all the Burly-Q Party hostesses, Introduction to Burlesque teachers, and Beyond Basic Burlesque instructors for making B.A.B.E. such a great place: Devora Darling, Evie Sphinx, Betty Blaize, Brigitte Bisoux, Stella Diamond, and Scratch.

Thank you for your skill, your enthusiasm, and your dedication. Onward & upward!

M2

* It comes from a Roman poem about cheese spread. Really. And the cheese is pretty tasty too.

Published in: on 21 February 2013 at 9:31 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: ,

Review: Retro Makeup

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

And while you’re doing that, please also vote for Jennifer Pelland for Best Author. She is a science fiction writer (and belly dancer), author of the novel Machine & the short story collection Unwelcome Bodies, and her fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies. She’s lost the Nebula award twice (once to Harlan Ellison), so let’s stop that nonsense. Besides, what’s that Lehane guy done lately?

Retro Makeup: Techniques for Applying the Vintage Look by Lauren Rennells.

I’m very happy with Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Styles with Step-by-Step Techniques, so I was pleased to see Ms. Rennells had a new book. Once again she has produced a book full of fabulous photographs and step by step instructions. Retro Makeup contains information about all the basics of applying makeup, like contouring, grooming brows, and lining lips, and information on the tools of the trade. There’s even a section on the best lipstick colors for your skin tone.

Her scope is the 1920’s through the 1950’s. There’s a great deal of historical information on makeup styles and cosmetics. You’ll learn about tanning, war-time makeup rationing, and why the most popular shade of powder was called “Rachel”. Not only is there a guide to applying false lashes, she shows the appropriate style for each decade. The book is peppered with photos of vintage cosmetic packaging and tools. The beauty fad sidebars are fun — will rouged earlobes ever come back into fashion?

The decade by decade chapters highlight brow and lip shapes as well as hallmark colors. There are only a few “looks” in each chapter, which may be initially disappointing, but it’s really an excuse for experimentation. Makeup is so intensely personal, dependent on skin coloration and face shape. There’s more than enough instruction for the reader to make up her own face in a historically accurate way that flatters her.

M2

Published in: on 20 February 2013 at 10:07 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: ,

Birthday Update

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

And the birthday festivities consisted of:

A little time to lounge on the day bed and read a long-hoarded book. (The Wind Through the Keyhole.)

Lunch at Myers + Chang. (It’s my pick for “Best Chinese Restaurant“)

A nearly private screening of A Good Day to Die Hard. (Yes, that was my choice. I like action movies. And Bruce Willis.)

A drink at the Ritz Bar. (I know it’s called the Taj these days, but to Spenser fans, it will always be The Ritz.)

All in all, a lovely day.

M2

Published in: on 19 February 2013 at 8:07 pm  Leave a Comment  

Birthday!

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

It’s my birthday today! The perfect gift would be for you to vote for The Boston Babydolls!

Scratch has some surprise planned for me, so I’ll be away from my writing desk for most of the day.

M2

Published in: on 19 February 2013 at 8:10 am  Leave a Comment  

Not the Original Plan

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

No sooner had I written yesterday’s missive about our show, the client called to reschedule it due to the snow. Now I had an unexpectedly free Sunday. What to do?

Into the sewing room I went and this was the result. Pray forgive the terrible photos, my camera is just not very good and it’s so hard to shoot oneself in a mirror and look stunning doing it. To make up for it, you can see Albert, the Manor cat, snoozing on the day bed.

top hat img_2426The bra and skirt are from an old circus-themed fan dance. I thought the outfit needed a little top hat. Usually I make hats from buckram & millinery wire, but I wanted something quick & dirty. This is made with a paper cup, some cardboard, and hot glue. Tutorial may be forthcoming.

panel img_2438If you saw The Wrathskellar this year, you might recognize this as the “Blue Angel” costume. That version has skirts made from silk veils. I wanted a panel skirt with less volume and had this great embroidered fabric. Sewing hand-rolled hems takes a long time, but it’s worth it.

I didn’t plan to work on *two* blue costumes; it just worked out that way.

M2

Published in: on 18 February 2013 at 8:01 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: ,

Snippets on a Sunday

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

Busy day today. We’re off to a corporate gig in Rhode Island shortly where we’ll be staging two performances of a classic revue, mostly featuring The July Project. Then back to Babydoll HQ for rehearsal.

Next Saturday is the last performance of The Bod of Avon. Last chance to see a show that’s been called “gorgeous”, “beautiful”, “brilliant”, “sexy and hilarious”.

Today is Stella’s birthday! Wish her a happy one! (stella@bostonbabydolls.com) Diamonds, long-stemmed roses, and Italian lingerie would also be happily accepted. Or you could just vote for us. That would make her happy too.

And here’s your reward for voting:

dd-victory-2012_49299264478_o
Devora Darling performing at the 2012 Victory Party to The Unluckiest Band with Alissa Coates singing. Photo by John L. Bilotti.

M2

Published in: on 17 February 2013 at 8:40 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: ,

Victory Could Be Yours

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day!

You may be asking yourself, O Constant Reader, “What’s in it for me? Sure, it’s true that the Boston Babydolls are far & away the best burlesque troupe in Boston, but why should I have to click my mouse a couple of times every day for them? What do I get out of it?”

Not only do you get the warm & fuzzy satisfaction of doing the right thing, you get the gratitude of several scantily-clad women. AND you get invited to an awesome victory party.

That’s right, if we win, we’ll throw another fabulous party, free to our supporters. In years past we’ve had free food, great music, prizes, performances by special guests, and of course, The Boston Babydolls, accompanied by a live band.

You can read about our 2011 Victory Party as experienced by Dig columnist Bar Havoc.

And, just to get you coming back here and voting, I’ll be occasionally posting pictures from our parties. Here, for example, is Evie Sphinx, when she was just a baby Babydoll, dancing to “Purple Wail” as performed by The Bone Masters. (Photo from Time Out Boston)

evie_0511ttdbabydollsphoenix05

M2

Published in: on 16 February 2013 at 9:10 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,

Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,


Please vote for The Boston Babydolls every day! There’s a little treat below as a thank you…

Chairs are for your butt, not your bag.

When you’re some place with limited seating, like most dressing rooms and back stages, find some other place to put your stuff. Don’t deprive someone else of a place to perch.

The 2nd Montreal International Burlesque Festival 2010 @ Club Soda = YES

chair = NO

Easy to remember!
M2

Published in: on 15 February 2013 at 10:11 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: ,

Thank You!!!

Dear Constant Reader,

Thank you so much! We couldn’t have gotten on the ballot without your help. And now comes the hard part — we need your vote. We need you to vote every single day, not just once. Hey, it’s The Phoenix’s rules…

I’ll be reminding you to vote every day and providing you with some incentives, like silly campaign promises, the real promise of a big Victory Party, photos, and whatever else I might think will bribe inspire you.

Let’s make it 4 years in a row.

M2

Published in: on 14 February 2013 at 9:05 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags:

New Books

Dear Constant Reader,

Here’s your daily reminder to nominate The Boston Babydolls for Best Burlesque. I *think* today is the last day for nominations, but don’t quote me on that.

Yesterday was Mardi Gras, so today is Ash Wednesday. For your humble correspondent, that means 40 days until… The Expo1!

Although it’s Wednesday, I don’t have a book review for you. Instead, here are some books for you to consider reading that I haven’t read yet, because they’re hot off the press (so to speak). I’m fortunate to know a number of talented writers (much more so than I) and several of them have brand new books out!

Andrew Kirschbaum has just released the second novel in his Fifth World series, Monday and the Counterfeit Corpse. Zack Monday is a hard-boiled detective in a city where magic is as common as technology and he’s apt to use a spell as often as his fists to solve a mystery. If you want to catch up, the first book in the series is Monday and the Murdered Man.

Teresa Noelle Roberts is known for her paranormal erotica, like Lions’ Pride and Foxes’ Den, but Knowing the Ropes is a kinky story set in this world.

Andrew Shaffer inspired a nation-wide Naked Girls Reading event with Great Philosophers Who Failed at Love. Now he brings us Literary Rogues: A Scandalous History of Wayward Authors. Look for it at a NGR Boston in the future, maybe even on March 16th.

M2

1Really 38, but who’s counting.

Published in: on 13 February 2013 at 10:16 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags:
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »