Well, Frock You Too!

Another amazing sidewalk sale happening today through Sunday only, at Frock You Vintage on Park ave. This time featuring TaTa Lane with costumes galore, and two other guest vendors bringing more retro goodies at discount prices. Bring cash!

Vintage Religion hosts festive craft classes

Vintage Religion is a cute little shop located just behind the newly opened Fresh and Easy store in North Park. For the remaining month of October they are hosting some fun classes that will get you in the mood for the upcoming Dia de los Muertos holiday.

Sugar Skull Making Workshops

Saturday's (2pm - 4pm) October 16, 23 & 30

Thursday's (6pm - 8pm) October 28

Sunday's (2pm - 4pm) October 24

$20.00: In this workshop you will receive a short lecture on the customs of Dia de Los Muertos and the symbolism of the sugar skull. This "hands on" class allows you to prepare the sugar mixture, mold, assemble and decorate a sugar skull. Each student will leave with a completed skull they have decorated. Taught by Ana Ibarra and Maryann Luera.

Masters Sugar Skull Workshop

Thursday, October 21 (6:00pm - 8:00pm)

$40.00: In this advanced Sugar Skull Making class students will be decorating an extra large Oaxacan Sugar skull with rhinestones, sequins, pearls and semi precious stones. Each participant will leave with a one-of-a-kind art piece that they have created. All of the materials are supplied by the instructors (Maryann Luera and Ana Ibarra). Students are welcome to bring their own stones, jewelry, etc to embellish their skull.

Altar Making Class

Friday, October 29 (6:00pm - 8:00pm)

$50.00: In this class we will be discussing the meaning and importance of altars or shrines as they pertain to Day of the Dead. Each person will assemble and get to take home a mini version of an altar, using as a model the traditional ones constructed in Mexican homes and cemeteries. We will provide the altar base as well as a variety of miniature items to decorate and embellish with. Feel free to bring your own items to personalize it.

For more events and info, click on October (above) for the full calendar!

El Camino, not just a bitchin' ride

Last night I went out to my favorite local restaurant in South Park, the Dia de los Muertos themed El Camino. Since opening last year I have been a few times, but have yet to visit their other location in Little Italy. This place rules for several reasons:

Awesome decor! Every inch is covered with something to look at, and if you're into the Day of the Dead this place will tickle your fancy. Murals on every wall...

A trippy holographic Mary art piece... (that after a few margarita's can be nauseating to watch)

An altar with handmade sugar skulls right outside los bano's, which has silver glittered floors by the way (and looks like a galaxy when you pee, hehe)

And plenty of Spanish lingo to learn, written even on the ceilings.

Besides the decorations, they have great food at affordable prices. Starting with a tray full of 6 different salsas to try, and authentic jicima with chile and lime, their menu has an appreciated variety of vegetarian meals and traditional Mexican favorites. I love their sweet potato flautas, which are sweet and spicy. (I did not get any photos of the food because we pretty much scarfed it down) but between their sopa de Fideo (soup), and Nachos El Camino, there were no complaints.

They also have an adorable bar area that is small but cozy, with vintage buttoned bar stools I want to take home with me.

They don't offer a full bar variety, but the select drinks they have are pretty nice, could be a little stronger but it makes up for it by being served in a boot glass!

I love this place year round, but during October it tends to be much busier than usual, so if you go just beware you may have to wait a little longer than usual for service. Totally worth it though for good food and a good time. Plus, the Whistle Stop is right across the street and has free events during the week like trivia night and my favorite, Booty Bassment! Great date night activities, if you ask me.... especially if you show up in one of these bad boys.

The Unicorn Bar: 5 Stars & Stripes

When it rains in San Diego I always think of Seattle Washington, where the climate encourages sweater vests and cardigans, things like buckled shoes and layers. I am jealous of the thriving green of the area, the moss and vines smothered over decaying city buildings and trees, on top of trees, on top of more trees. Some with technicolor leaves, (what a concept). Besides the lush environment, I enjoy the culture of the living there, and often wish San Diego had half the treasures I have found in the short time I have spent up North. One of my favorite "5 star" finds, is the Unicorn Bar located in Capitol Hill.

Inside it's striped exterior it feels like the circus has come to town, but isn't leaving anytime soon! There are more stripes, taxidermist horned animals hanging off the wall, and several ornate chandeliers. The bar area looks like a carousel car, paused just long enough to serve you a stiff one before wheeling on. (Thank God it doesn't actually turn, I have been to the famous rotating bar in Vegas- from Fear & Loathing, and it was terrifying).

More so, their drinks are packed to punch with yummy, unique names suited to fit the Equestrian theme.

This is the Hellicorn, a delicious blend of Fireball whisky and ginger beer! Since going I have found the Aero club in San Diego serves Fireball as well, love it.

Lots of inappropriately delicious cocktails on the menu, in addition to snacks like Narwhal Balls and Fried Cornichorn's....

The venue is something magical, and I wish I could transport myself up there whenever I am having a bad day. I highly recommended at least stopping by if you ever visit the Capitol Hill area of Seattle, but the next best thing (and more affordable) is getting the look yourself.

Sunset magazine offers an easy to follow tutorial on "striping" your walls at home. Maybe pink and green aren't your thing, but it is a nice guide to refer to in general if you want to paint an accent piece of furniture or add some wainscoting to your home. Paired with a Victrola or over sized bottle of peacock feathers, you are halfway there.

Make your own Pomander Ball

Pomander Balls were the deodorant of the Medieval times, and also believed to be a form of protection. During the Tudor times, townspeople believed "bad smells" carried illnesses and hence carrying a something "good smelling" would protect them from death. Some pomander balls were made primarily out of oranges and cloves, and tied to the undercarriage of women's dresses and/or in closets, and other smaller ones were sometimes in the form of beads made out of spices held together by gum.

I think today they combine some of the best scents of the season, and make nice gifts. For about $15 you can make a few aromatic additions to your home that last a long time.

You will need:

* At least 1 ounce of whole cloves, usually found on the spice isle. These run about $8-$10 for a jar of around 50 grams
* Thin-skinned oranges, on the small side
* Ground cinnamon, or other spices like Nutmeg (just a little will do, a small container is fine)
* Some sort of poking needle to pierce the skin of the orange (I used a tiny screw driver)
*Ribbon (optional)

Gizmo can't resist the ribbon

Directions:

1. First start by deciding if you want to make a hanging ball or one you will sit in potpourri or a bowl. If you opt for a hanging ball, you will want to attach the ribbon first. I have seen others use tape first to reserve the area where the ribbon can be tied after everything is complete (so that the ribbon doesn't get dirty) so if you want to take that extra step that's fine too. I prefer to tie the ribbon first so that I don't take the tops of the cloves off trying to do so at the end.

2. Next, pierce the skin of the orange using the needle to make inserting the cloves a little easier. You will want to leave the cloves with a little distance between them because once the orange dries up it will shrink, bringing the cloves in tighter (the drying process for the orange takes several weeks.)


3. Start by filling in the cloves one portion at a time, stem side down. The bulbs should stick out of the orange, with the sharp ends inside.

It's important to get the Whole Cloves, so that the pointy stems are still attached

I sprinkled cinnamon onto the cloves first so that when the stems are inserted into the fruit, the juice from the orange holds the scents together and acts as a natural glue once dry.

4. Continue to insert the cloves, rotating it as you go, until the entire orange is covered. Sometimes when the tops fall off of the clove stems, they can be sharp, so be careful if you are doing this activity with kids. You can use a thimble if the skin is too tough and you have to really shove them in there to get them to stay. If you use the needle first though, it should make it a lot easier.

When you are finished, tie the end of the ribbon into a bow, using the leftover string to form a circle that can be hooked onto wherever you hang it from.

Completed Pomander Ball

5. Experts say you are supposed to let the orange dry out in a dark area for 2-4 weeks before it is completely ready. I think you might as well enjoy it while it is curing, so if you don't put it in your closet you can also stick it in your kitchen, or bathroom. If you decided to make one without the ribbon, you could also opt to make several and put them out in a bowl. If they start to loose their scent you could then toss them in more cinnamon or a mix of your favorite dried herbs to spice them up again. (I have also heard using Orris Root powder in your spice blend, in addition to coating the orange with lemon juice before starting will help preserve the Pomander Ball even longer.)

Although a primitive tradition, Pomander Balls are still useful today and make great festive gifts from October through December. It's also a fun alternative to carving pumpkins with your family and friends.

MayStar Parties

Tonight at U-31 if you're not doing anything... also, on the 29th an Alice in Wonderland Masquerade Ball!

10 Costume Tips (from a self proclaimed expert!)

Take no offense if you find yourself in this category. But every year when Halloween rolls around I see countless people wearing the same exact costume, at the same bars/events as other people, wearing the same exact store bought thing. This has in fact happened to me when one year I wore a Wonder Woman costume I was stoked to find (granted I did customize it a bit...)

Of course I would much rather see people dressed up, than in nothing at all (wet blankets) but this year I am making myself even more available for help in this situation. I have not one, but ten suggestions on how to save money and come up with a cool costume this year, without even stepping foot in a mall.


1. Brainstorm! It helps to have an idea, or a few idea's of what you may want to be/do before you start the hunt. That way you can organize your search to specific items and/or keep an eye out for a few essentials while you are out and about. You never know when or where you may score something perfect. It also helps to Google images of that thing/person to take note of what would make it easy to recognize or stand out. Take these pictures with you on your search! (And, if you already look like someone famous, just go with that... it always works)

Some girl at the bar that looked (and acted) just like Amy Winehouse

Sara and her date as Rogue and Wolverine

2. Shop second hand! This time of year most thrift stores are packed with discarded costumes and weird remnants that you can use to create your own. This is also when they scour their stock for all those funky, retro items that maybe are a bit too dated for most people (to me, this is an ideal time to shop in general.) If you don't have an idea to begin with, you may get inspired just by going through some racks, and end up with something clever that only cost a few bucks. Here is a great resource to keep on hand, a pretty extensive list of second hand stores throughout San Diego County.

Front and back photos of a dress I found a week ago at a Salvation Army for less than $10. I bought it because my sister was searching for a Marie Antoinette costume, and this had all the features. For a few extra dollars it is going to be altered to fit her perfectly, and with all her accessories will look flawless. 80's prom dress= Baroque Queen for a fraction of the price.

3. Re-use an old costume by re-purposing it into something new. My sister's friend did this one year when she bought this "wet t-shirt costume" (so, so gross in my opinion) but the next year she turned it into "Beth" from Dog the Bounty Hunter's t.v. show for my party. Thank God.

4. Make your own, using cheap materials and your brain. Cardboard is easy to come by, easy to mold and attach to things, and easy to paint. Here are some of my favorite cardboard creations...

Dave, as the "The Cedar Fires" a few years ago

A robot dancing with a Teenage Mutant Ninga Turtle (turtle power) at the Whistle Stop. The head was paper mache actually, another easy material to play with.

5. Use what you already have! Some original idea's are probably already hiding out in your closet, in the clothes pushed towards the back and/or maybe on your partner's side. Try to look objectively at you have, like what it reminds you of or where you may have seen something like it on someone else, or in a different decade, in a movie or book, etc. Or, see if you can borrow something from a friend, as long as you make sure to return it in the same condition.

Leah, as a character from Hitchcock's 1963 classic The Bird's, using some of her already owned vintage clothes

My friends Marian and Barb, as a "Tree" and "David the Gnome", both hand made costumes using mostly items out of their closet, with a few custom accessories.

Katie (in her mother-in-law's old carrot costume from the 70's), Marie as Jackie O and Annie as Frida Kahlo, both in already owned clothes.

6. If you know how to sew and/or an artist, this is your time to shine. Spend a weekend, or a few hours a week putting together something you are proud of. You may have a ton of materials hanging around that aren't being used, so well, now is the time to use them. Get creative!

This amazing costume was made by my friend Matt, who literally created a life size replica of one of his own comic characters from a bunch of materials. You cannot see it but the "eye" actually lit up with the help from one of those push-top lights.

Here some friends made costumes from material purchased at a local fabric store. The Bjork costume was spot on, and made from a white dress with a stuffed swan neck that was just stitched together.

7. Pick a pair: C'mon be cutesy! Couple costumes are the best, and when you share the cost between two people, it's half the price and double points for creativity.

Jedi warriors

The Walker's as Frankenstein and Scientist

We did not plan this, but Felicia showed up as Frankie to the same dance that I came as the Bride of Frankenstein! People wanted photos of us together all night, it was fun.

Another unexpected "couple costume" happened when Sarah Palin showed up at the same party as John McCain. Although Autumn and Ian aren't a real life couple, it was fun to have them both campaigning the same room! (Maybe a good way to meet your match if you're single, would be to show up as one part of a pair, and see what happens.)


8. Safety in numbers: If you aren't having any luck on your own, find a few friends to go in on a group costume with. When there's more than one of something, it doesn't necessarily have to be perfect to work. Pick something easy, and stick together. See how the zombie's (at the top of the post) worked it out with some $5.00 bloody makeup and tattered clothing, made by just a little mirror time and fun with scissors.

9. Focus on the Makeup alone. People will always notice your face first, so if you devote most of your time and effort to decorating up top, you can get away with saving a lot of money on a detailed costume, and still create an awesome look.

Kristel's entire"corpse bride" costume was creepy and complete, this is just an example of how a successful makeup job scan be created using mostly stuff that you already own.

Here Jackie did such a unique job mimicking Captain Jack Sparrow that the rest of the costume could have been anything. She bought the wig and 'stache, but the rest was hand-done.

10. The last thing that I have to add is that if you look this cute already, I have no problem with you wearing a generic costume!

One of my favorite people, Mary as "Dorothy"

Just, if you have to buy new, at least make it ironic or something funny... So, good luck, happy hunting and make me proud!