This Week in Instagram

Some say that because Instagram has gotten so popular it’s now completely useless and not cool. As someone without a properly functioning camera, I’m going to go ahead and say that Instagram is still very cool and so each week I’ll be sharing stuff with you guys from my Instagram account, and maybe even from my friends’ streams, since they have interesting stuff too.

Really, I use Instagram because I’m always amazed by all the stuff I see. The beautiful details in a building, adorable dogs, a great pair of shoes. Taking pictures when I’m not “prepared” to makes me realize that even on the crappiest days I’m surrounded by beauty. So. It won’t always be vintage, but it will hopefully be interesting.

(click to enlarge)

 

1) An amazing leopard-print dress form in the Marshall’s on 18th Street.

2) Party Like it’s 1959. Cute! I want all their glassware, teapots, cake stands, napkins…God, I love Fishs Eddy.

3) This is a sign down the street from my house on a beautiful day. Look, ma, no filter!

Manhattan Serenade at Duane Park

Last night I took my boyfriend and the same game friend that went with me to the Kentucky Derby party to the Wednesday night burlesque show at Duane Park, starring Dandy Wellington and His Band. Duane Park is one of the most popular places to see burlesque in New York, especially with a live band, but last night was my very first time.

Before we get to the girls, let’s talk about something really important: food. I’ve never had cheese grits for dinner/anywhere outside of a greasy spoon but these cheese grits at Duane Park are delicious. Rich, smoky flavor. I almost lost my mind. Also, try the miso duck salad.

The performers came onto a stage in the center of the restaurant. It’s a small, beautiful space, so even though we were set up at the bar, it felt really intimate. Peekaboo Pointe was the star, so to speak. I’ve been raving about her since the Peek Brooklyn launch party at City Winery so I was so excited my boyfriend finally got to see what I’d been talking about. Peekaboo Pointe was fantastic, though I won’t lie, I was hoping for a bit more of her jaw-dropping ass action. Chicava Honeychild wasn’t originally on the invitation but I got excited because it’s rare to see burlesque performers of color so yay representation. And Amber Ray, who’s another big name but one I’d never seen before, does incredible things with her boobs.

Unfortunately, my camera is still on the fritz. So I don’t have any good pictures of the show, which is really too bad because Amber Ray had this purple costume that screamed Mae West. The good news is, I was able to take a sort of blurry photo of this incredible dress I bought from Bop and Awe on Etsy. Look, it’s in my sidebar!

I’m about to throw my camera out of the window

Jean, the owner, is really, really incredibly helpful–getting this dress was quite a pain but I’m so happy it’s here. This is a deadstock 1940s raw silk number. Swoon. I’ve never bought any vintage with the original tags, so this was pretty exciting stuff for me. It feels a little bit like being on a treasure hunt with your friends, finding everything and running away before they even know you’ve found it.

Changes

Hello. I’m trying to get a proper handle on my blog stuff so my lovely readers can get to things easily. First:

I’ve changed my Twitter handle. I’m no longer @d_funkt (that was my username when I first started using Blogger) and now I’m @itsdlovely. Tweet me and let’s be friends.

I’m no longer going to use the Google Connect widget. Instead, I’m going to ask that you all subscribe to my feed however you usually curate your feeds. I personally love Google Reader. But I’m also on Bloglovin if that works. Thanks for being flexible and we’ll be back  to our regularly scheduled programming shortly!

Hilarious Jon Hamm Video

I nearly cried watching Jon Hamm give advice to teenage girls, who are admittedly pretty funny on their own, at times.
 

I love him even more than I did before.

Leibster Blog Award

Not to be all Sally Fields and stuff, but they like me, they really like me! Shon of The Sunflower Mama Chronicles passed on the Leibster Blog Award to me last week and since I’ve been busy with work/feeling famous, I’m only getting to this now. But a big thanks to Shon. OK, the rules are:

1. Thank and link back the person who awarded you
2. Write 7 random things about yourself
3. Spread the love to 15 more bloggers

I had to dig into the archives to make sure I didn’t repeat myself for those of you playing along at home. Here we go, Seven Random Things:

1. My mother is from Panama. My Spanish needs work but if you saw me with a plate my aunt’s arroz con guandu y pollo guisado, you would never know it.

2. I have a cat named Shaka. As in Shaka Zulu, not Chaka Khan. Shaka is a five-year-old FIV+ furball from a shelter. He was (is?) feral and has a bigger jaw than most cats because he reached adulthood with his testicles still intact. Most feral cats don’t learn to be as loving as Shaka is–most don’t even learn how to purr–but he’s a happy-go-lucky stinker who sits on my laptop when he doesn’t think I’m paying enough attention to him.
    2a.Funnily enough, I always pictured myself with a Yorkie. I never liked cats until I met Shaka, who sort of thinks he’s a dog.

3. I hate slasher movies but love psychological thrillers. Saw=no. Hannibal=yesyesyes.

4. I’m obsessed with Spongebob. No one in New York under age 30 has cable but I got cable so I could watch Spongebob and Mad Men. I’m far too old, but there you go.

5. I eat olives (pitted, green and black) straight from the jar. They are so good.

6. I am terrified/horribly disgusted by roaches. Just typing that made me feel icky. Which begs the question: why the hell do I live in New York?

7. I hate exercise. I would rather be sitting on my butt with my laptop and a brownie. This is a major point of contention with my boyfriend, who ran track all through high school and still hits the gym regularly. Also, my roommate is a yoga teacher. Meh. I’ll get there.

Bonus: I have a potty mouth. Don’t tell my mother.

I’m going to have to think about the 15 bloggers to nominate so stay tuned. I think I may go bake some of those brownies I mentioned in number 7…

Dressed for the Races

This year’s Kentucky Derby viewing party at The Bell House was just as much fun as last year’s (even though this year we had to pay $10 to get in to the previously-free bash. I’m on to you guys).

Anastasia of La China Loca came with more of her gorgeous hats. I didn’t get one this year, but I certainly have my eye on the purple number in the front with the great big feather.

Sorry! I had to make due with my phone since the flash on my camera is still broken. Womp, womp.

My friend Rebecca and I did some square dancing (hilarious) and then cooled off with some mint juleps. I always forget how grossly sweet those things are, but you kind of have to suck it up and go.

Rebecca had a proper hat but I had to settle for flowers. Hey, if Lana Turner can get away with it, then so can I. I wore the 1950s Kay Windsor dress I wore to the last Champagne Riot and now you can get a proper look at it.

Frankly, I think these photos Rebecca took of me are more flattering than *eh hem* the one of me on the Wall Street Journal website. They even took my name, spelled it right, and asked me what I was wearing. I’ve been feeling famous all day.

Kurt Wilberding for the Wall Street Journal

You see, this is a dress with pockets and if I’m not careful, it bunches up a bit around the hips, hence the wee bit of chubbiness. But no matter! Here’s my 15 minutes.

Retrofit: Mods to a ModCloth dress

If you’ve been poking around here for a while, you know one of my favorite dresses is the Soda Fountain Dress in ginger from ModCloth.

When I first posted about the dress, I commented on it needing starch since it gets wrinkled easily. That’s an easy enough fix. A mere month after that I accidentally ripped the little capped sleeve while reaching to open the passenger side door. I can’t sew to save my life so I had it patched up at the tailor. That didn’t hold. A seam ripper mistake and tailor visit later, this is what I got:

Oops! My slip is showing!

I quite like it this way. It reminds of the first sleeveless shirtwaist I saw: Doris Day’s in the market scene of The Man Who Knew Too Much.

How have you had to modify clothes?