Places To Go

The fourth annual Palm Springs Modernism Show will be held at the Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs next weekend. The event features dealers from all over the place. And even if you can't afford to buy - it's worth it just to look and get lots of good decorating ideas.
http://www.palmspringsmodernism.com

Besides the show, there are other related events happening in P.S. the same weekend... On the Friday night there is a Preview Gala for the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation featuring iconic architectural photographer Julius Shulman signing copies of his work, Cory Buckner, signing copies of her work on A. Quincy Jones and Tim Biskup signing an original serigraph from M Modern Gallery.
http://www.pspf.net/events.htm

And on Saturday night, P.S. Modcom hosts their annual fundraiser at a fabulous Modern home offsite.
http://www.psmodcom.com/news.html

Lastly, it is the same weekend as the Indio Date Festival - itself, a worthy event to attend. Just think... You are a week away from yummy date shakes!
http://www.datefest.org/

Is it raining or snowing where you are? Or just cold winter weather? Well, what a great excuse to take a last minute trek to Miami!!!

On January 14-16th, the Miami Design Preservation League will host the 28th Annual Art Deco Weekend. It all began back in 1976 to help raise awareness and appreciation for the design of the Art Deco era (roughly 1925-1945). The weekend festival features artists, films, antique dealers and vendor booths, music and entertainment, tours and lectures, and yes, even a parade on Saturday afternoon!
http://www.mdpl.org/weekend.html

I am very excited to tell you about this event… because this year I was crowned the queen of the parade!!!

This is 28th year of this wild and wacky celebration. I think of this festive procession as a celebration of character and color. Because participants are so imaginative and silly and you never know what will be walking down the street next. I just can't explain it anymore – you just have to see for yourself.

The Doo Dah Parade takes place this year on Sunday November 21 and begins at 11:30 AM along historic Colorado Boulevard in Old Town Pasadena and is free to all spectators!
http://www.lightbringerproject.org

Mondo Lounge is an event that is after my own heart. It includes everything you and I are already excited about: the tiki scene, exotic and lounge music, atomic age lifestyle and the Mid Century Modern look. But it stirs it all up in one big mixed cocktail! It's a Car Rally all day and Party/Conference all night affair that I hope becomes an annual event!

Saturday Oct. 16 http://www.mondo-lounge.com

Spend an eclectic weekend with the Los Angeles Conservancy Modern Committee (ModCom) for a two-day self-driven tour of some of the great monuments of L.A. Modern Architecture on September 18-19.

Visit the homes of Charles and Ray Eames, Richard Neutra, enjoy a tour and book signing with legendary architectural photographer Julius Shulman in his own 1949 home in the Hollywood Hills. Mod gems by RM Schindler and Gregory Ain are also included, as is the sci-fi Modernism of Armet & Davis' Pann's coffee shop, the sleek '58 headquarters building for Union Oil - now restored as a functioning movie studio - and the lush gardens of the World's Fair-like Ambassador College in Pasadena. Twenty sites in all! On Saturday, SHAG will be signing his limited edition serigraph celebrating the tour.

The tour is all weekend, but you get to choose your own adventure! And go at your own pace! They are including a 32-page illustrated booklet, food coupons, free museum admission and special deals all weekend. $20 per person for Conservancy members, $30 for non-members.

This is a great group to keep in touch with in any event. Visit http://www.modcom.org for all the details.

The Hukilau is the biggest Tiki Party on the East coast. It happens this year in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The weekend long event includes TikiBilly, Hapa Haole and Tropical Music; Vendors of Tiki clothing and art; and concludes with a Luau like no other at the Fabulous Mai Kai – one of the last and greatest Tiki Temples in the world. So book your flights now for Florida for September 23 through the 25th and Don't miss it for the world!

http://www.thehukilau.com/

Every June (this year it's June 24, 25, 26, 2004) a fabulous festival is held at the Judy Garland Museum. There are educational sessions, live entertainment and of course… Munchkins!
Grand Rapids, Minnesota (Judy's birthplace) is the home of the world's most extensive collection of Judy! Founded in 1975 by local artist Jackie Dingmann, the Judy Garland Museum is one of the oldest museums dedicated to a celebrity in the nation. The museum is adjacent to the restored home where Judy spent her formative years. Guests can flashback to the 1920s and tour the furnished period house. You can see Wizard of Oz memorabilia including the carriage that brought Dorothy and her companions to see the Wizard, as well as gold records, a microphone from her tv show and other personal items.
www.judygarlandmuseum.com

It's too late for you this year, but mark your calendars for THE Rockabilly event of the year... VIVA LAS VEGAS. This year marks the 7th year that literally thousands of rockabilly guys and dolls, teddy boys, tattoo mommas, and other variations of 50's themed personalities descend upon the Gold Coast Casino for four non-stop days and nights of partying.

Vendors come from around the globe offering fabulous retro wares. I personally bought myself two pairs of vintage eyeglasses and some pink gloves this time around! And the Bands... well everyone comes out of the woodwork. Rockabilly legends like Sid King and his 5 Strings, the Teenagers, Ray Sharpe and Huelyn Duvall as well as newer Rock 'n Roll revivalists and Rhythm and Blues bands like the Extraordinaires and Deke Dickerson are all there.

Viva Las Vegas even offers a free intensive jive dance workshop so when the bands start to play, you'll know just how to strut your stuff. And oh - did I mention, there's also a Burlesque girl contest!

Even if you don't officially attend the event, it's worth it to be in Vegas on this weekend just for the Free pre-1963 Car Show on Saturday as well as the tremendous people watching in the Casino as people float back and forth between the vendors and showrooms.

So if you want to see some real live action in Sin City... Don't miss Viva Las Vegas!

http://www.vivalasvegas.net