Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! B.A.B.E classes for January and February are open for registration! We’ve got Introduction to Burlesque classes, of course, floorwork with Devastasia, and two burlesque routine classes! I’m teaching a one-shot workshop at Deacon Giles in Salem at the end of January and a two-part class in our usual studio in February.

Here’s your tip!

This is a hectic time of year — lots of gigs, lots of parties and other social events, lots of family obligations. Remember to build in some down time. And I don’t mean on January first. You need to rest to be at your best!

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 13 December 2024 at 11:43 am  Leave a Comment  
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Review: Your Beauty Mark

Dear Constant Reader,

Here’s another book that’s been hanging around my shelves for far too long without a review.

Your Beauty Mark: The Ultimate Guide to Eccentric Glamour by Dita Von Tease with Rose Apodaca, 2015.

I’ll be perfectly honest; I did not have high hopes for this book. I thought Dita’s first book, Burlesque and the Art of the Teese/Fetish and the Art of the Teese, while very pretty, was a bit superficial and self-indulgant.

I was very pleasantly surprised that this book is packed with useful information. As to be expected, it’s full of glamourous pictures of Dita, but also some more practical demonstration ones. Besides just Dita, her co-author also offers beauty advice and there are sidebars from a number of other experts and eccentrics in the world of glamour.

There are a lot of topics in each section, but broken into bite-sized bits. As one would expect, the book covers makeup and hair styling, both of which are illustrated with photos of Dita demonstrating. I thought it very impressive that someone whose brand is based on artifice was willing to appear “undone”.

The first part is the most eclectic, covering skin care, fitness, nutrition, bathing, the bosom, hair removal, and perfume. Dita demonstrates her pilates-style workouts in photographs and shares her recipe for a green smoothie.

The second part is on cosmetics. She starts at the base with foundation and powder. The eye chapter has a lot about the cat eye, but also lashes, including false ones. Brows have their own chapter, as does blush, beauty marks (hers is a tattoo), lipstick, and manicures, including how to do Dita’s half-moon style, courtesy of “Mom Von Teese”. Throughout there are photos of Dita putting on her makeup. The last chapter of this section is a bit different, called “Striking Below the Waist”, it has very little to do with cosmetics. Instead, it discusses care for the waist, bum, legs and feet. There is the expected how-to for a pedicure, but also a discussion of stockings and a little about corsets. Lastly there are several pages on pubic hair and the styling thereof.

The third part is on hair. You’ll learn about cleaning and conditioning hair and hair tools and products. Of course there is a discussion of hair coloring; Dita is quite open that her blue-black locks come from a bottle. As with the makeup section, Dita demonstrates a number of her favored hairstyles, including her signature ‘do, in photographs

The fourth and last part is extreme forms of beauty — cosmetic surgery and stage makeup. Dita is quite honest about her breast augmentation. She is in favor of having work done, if it’s right for you and if you do a lot of research to find the doctor that’s right for you. And, she does point out that embracing your “flaws” make you unique. She outlines the lengths she goes to to create a flawless façade on stage, including covering herself neck to toe in body makeup that she blends herself. Having handled one of her costumes, I can confirm that the inside was daubed with pale foundation. She also gives tips for removing makeup, both the stray smudges and flecks that could mar your handiwork and how to get it all off afterwards.

As I said above, I was surprised and quite delighted about the amount of useful information in this rather weighty tome. Yes, Dita does take opportunities to shill her products, but one expects the reader to already be a Dita fan. Although she shows her signature styles and discusses her beauty regimines in detail, she does encourage the reader to find their own style of glamour — thus Your Beauty Mark.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 11 December 2024 at 1:36 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

I had a different tip for you, but we’ll get to it some other time.

Tell those you love that you care about them.

We’re getting into the dark part of the year and it’s always good to spread a little light.

M2

Published in: on 6 December 2024 at 4:45 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Review: The Family Vault

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s no secret that I love a good cozy mystery. And this is the perfect time of year for one. I want to thank the lovely Cat B. for recommending this charming one. What does this have to do with burlesque? Read on!

The Family Vault by Charlotte MacLeod, 1979

Sarah Kelling Kelling is a member of an old aristocratic Boston family,   married to her much older fifth cousin once removed, and desperately trying to keep up appearances in their Beacon Hill townhouse on a tiny budget.

When her great-uncle insisted that he be interred in the old family vault (instead of the newer family plot next to his wife), Sarah is present when the vault is opened prior to the funeral. Besides the expected ancient Kellings, they find the skeletal corpse of a woman still clad in a moldering corset and high heels, with chips of rubies embedded in her teeth.

She is quickly identified as Ruby Redd, an infamous burlesque dancer who performed at the notorious Old Howard in Scollay Square (pictured below). And she was murdered. Are there more skeletons (metaphorical and otherwise) in the Kelling family closet? What happened to the Kelling family fortune and jewels? And what about burlesque?

For the former questions, read the book. It’s fun, if a tad dated. As for the latter, there actually isn’t too much about burlesque. It’s not really a plot point, other than the profession of the murder victim and how she’s connected to the family, but there’s a little discussion throughout the story. 

I enjoyed it quite a bit, especially watching Sarah come into her own over the course of the story. And I’m looking forward to the rest of the books in the series, if I can find them.

Old Howard

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 4 December 2024 at 10:16 am  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving, if you celebrate. We didn’t do the traditional dinner…

Scratch planned a simple meal of British favorites that was excellent. Betty brought Devils on Horseback (dates stuffed with goat cheese, wrapped in bacon, and broiled). Scratch made the mains — cullen skink (finnan haddie (smoked haddock) chowder) and steak, mushroom, & ale pie. I contributed dessert: trifle (layered with home-made sour cherry preserves on home-made vanilla cake sprinkled with sherry, strawberries macerated in vanilla sugar, home-made custard, Italian macaroons, topped with almond whipped cream.

And now here’s your tip!

Leftovers are not only good for Thanksgiving. They’re good in burlesque too.

You’re working on a routine. You come up with a combination you like, but it just doesn’t work in this act. Record it. Use it in a different act.

You’ve finished a costume and you have some fabric left over. Make a storage bag (you’ll know which costume pieces are in it because it’s the same fabric) or consider what accessories you could add to the outfit or if it’s just small bits, add it to a costume repair kit.

I’m sure you can think of other examples! Let me know how you use leftovers.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 29 November 2024 at 10:14 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s Friday again! Have a tip!

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you needed to measure something and you didn’t have a measuring tape?

A quarter is about an inch.
A dollar bill is about 6 inches.
Your arm span from fingertip to fingertip is about your height.

This is good for rough estimates, not precision measurements, but better than nothing!

A quarter or a dollar is a good way to show scale in photos too.

Thanks to Scratch for reminding me of these little tricks.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 22 November 2024 at 3:27 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s Friday again! Time for a tip!

To preserve your manicure, wear gloves whenever working with your hands.

Work gloves, gardening gloves, dishwashing gloves, &c. 

I tend to knick my left thumbnail with the needle when I’m hand sewing. Since gloves aren’t practical in that case, I use a thimble. It’s taken a little while to get used to it, but worth it.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 15 November 2024 at 5:57 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Review: Banned in Boston

Dear Constant Reader,

This is one of those books I was sure I reviewed ages ago, but didn’t…

Banned in Boston: The Watch and Ward Society’s Crusade against Books, Burlesque, and the Societal Evil by Neil Miller, 2010.

“Banned in Boston”. Anyone who is a fan of classic burlesque knows that phrase. But who did the banning? Professor Miller presents the history of the New England Watch and Ward Society, founded in 1878 as the New England Society for the Suppression of Vice, the first branch of Anthony Comstock’s New York organization. The Society was a volunteer organization dedicated to keeping Boston, the Athens of America, as well as the rest of New England, clean and moral. Essentially vigilantes, the Society used quasi-legal methods to expose and punish immoral crimes, such as gambling, drug use, and prostitution. Sometimes they worked with local police and sometimes they set up their own raids and stings. But ultimately the Society was about censorship.

Any book, play, or motion picture that did not meet with the Watch and Ward’s approval could be banned. At the height of the Society’s power, there was a gentleman’s agreement between them and the booksellers. Banned books would quietly be taken off the shelves and the bookstore owners would then not be prosecuted for selling obscene material. Eventually the “Banned in Boston” label was used as a selling point in the rest of the country.

There’s one chapter in the book on burlesque and the Watch and Ward. The Society objected to profanity and suggestive language, costumes that showed off the female figure, and risqué dance movements. By the 1930s, they were keeping tabs on burlesque shows in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and Providence. In 1932 one investigator complained that Bubbles Keller had “pliable hips, oscillating buttocks, and breasts that seemed forever quivering.” Doth he protest too much?

According to Ann Corio, the box office at the Old Howard would warn the performers that a Watch and Ward member was in the house by hitting a button that would turn on a red light in the footlights. The performers would then go ahead with the “Boston version”, a cleaned up act. It’s unclear if this really happened, since the Old Howard was shut down a few times for violations before being closed for good in 1953 when Irma the Body was secretly filmed by vice cops.

It’s worth reading to understand the atmosphere in Boston during the Golden Age of burlesque, but despite the prominent photo of Sally Keith on the book cover, the burlesque specific chapter is relatively short. Much of the book is concerned with censorship of books and legitimate theatre. I found it interesting that when Eugene O’Neill’s play Strange Interlude was banned in Boston (to great outcry), it was produced with great success in liberal Quincy*.

Despite the book being published almost 15 years ago, it’s still a timely cautionary tale of what can happen when private citizens decide what is “decent” and “moral” for others and take enforcement into their own hands.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

*For those unfamiliar with Boston politics, Quincy is pretty conservative these days and some years ago, blocked a certain burlesque troupe from opening a studio there.

Published in: on 14 November 2024 at 12:21 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s Friday again. It’s been a rough week. Maybe you feel similar. I wasn’t sure I was going to post a tip today, but there were these thoughts chasing around in my head. Maybe you need to hear them too.

It’s okay if you need to mourn, to cry, to rage, to scream, to talk, to listen, to seek out company, to be alone. Just don’t give up.

M2

Published in: on 8 November 2024 at 3:42 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Review: Honey Cup Cafe & Tearoom

Dear Constant Reader,

signOn Sunday I had the pleasure of being one of the first customers at the new Honey Cup Cafe and Tearoom in Manchester, NH. The Honey Cup is run by Mara, a B.A.B.E. student and burlesque performer a few years back. You know how much I love tea, so I’ve been eagerly following her updates about the project. It was so exciting to be invited to her soft opening!

Manchester is about an hour from Boston, but on a Sunday morning, the drive was easy and the autumn scenery was lovely, even on the highway. We entered through the cozy cafe and were seated in the much larger tearoom. The decor is very elegant: black walls, gold accents, and lots of floral motifs. We chose one of the low tables with a couch and armchairs, but there are standard height tables too.tea room interior

The menu has a variety of breakfast, lunch, and small bite items without being overwhelming. It being brunch time, Scratch ordered the potato waffle with milk oolong tea and pigs in blankets to share and Marek had a frittata with white velvet tea. Despite being tempted by some of my favorite dishes like clam chowder, overnight oats, and macaroni and cheese, I ordered the afternoon tea service with peach black tea. I just had to.

honey jarAll of the china was mismatched, but harmonious, floral patterns. The tea came in individual pots, with the tea already brewed, no leaves to deal with. Mine was delightful. I take my tea black, so I didn’t add any of the wee jar of honey (local, our server said), but Marek said it was delicious.

My order came on the traditional three-tiered server of savories, scones, and sweets, garnished with flowers, with dishes of butter, strawberry jam, and lemon curd. There was more than enough for me to share bits with my companions.

Afternoon Tea Service

First tier: Cucumber sandwich (a classic!), smoked salmon sandwich, chicken salad on a croissant, and a deviled egg. The sandwiches were on thicker bread than usual for tea sandwiches, but it was so good and didn’t overwhelm the fillings. I even liked the deviled egg, and you all know how I feel about eggs. My favorite was the chicken salad; the croissant was ridiculously flaky. I didn’t share that one at all.

There was a choice of three flavors of scone, one of which gluten-free. I picked the white chocolate-raspberry and they were SO GOOD. I have very high standards when it comes to scones and these met them. I particularly liked that the white chocolate was in chips rather than melted into the dough, in made for a more pronounced white chocolate flavor, with complimented the raspberries.

Lastly the sweets. We all agreed the madeleine was quite good (but not as good as mine) with a perfect bump on the back. The lemon macaron and chocolate petit four were each a perfect bite (and I did not share).

table settingOther positives, even though the tea room was full, it wasn’t particularly noisy; I had no trouble hearing my companions. The prices were perfectly reasonable. In fact, I think the afternoon tea was a pretty good deal. Although we didn’t indulge, there’s a small drinks menu with a couple of kinds of wine, cocktails, and bubbles.

The only thing I would knock points off for is the service, but I’m not going to, because this was their shakedown cruise. There was a little confusion about who was serving which table and a bit of unevenness as to when things arrived at the table. However, I’m confident that things will smooth out. That’s the whole point of a soft opening.

I appreciated the notes on the back of the tea menu defining the kinds of teas, like cream tea (with clotted cream) and royal tea (with sparkling wine), for those who might not be as well versed in such things. I was especially happy to see the explanation of the difference between afternoon tea and high tea — it makes me crazy when they are confused.

They’re open to the public now and I encourage you to go! I’m so happy for Mara for making this lovely oasis a reality and wish her all the best!

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 7 November 2024 at 5:21 pm  Leave a Comment  
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