Tag Archives: costume

Off to see the wizard

Last weekend you may remember that my friend Carrie and I hit the road and headed South to Kentucky. The goal: girl time. Visiting my sister Erica. A dress fitting for the Regency Ball gowns Erica was sewing for us. Snuggles with Erica’s cats. Plenty of laughing.

Carrie came armed for our 6 hour drive with: 1 package Fig Newtons; one giganto-bag Doritos; 1 package Snickers bars; 1 bag wasabi peas. She doesn’t like wasabi peas, so I was responsible for consuming the whole bag–half on the way down, half on the way up. That’s 1000 calories in just wasabi peas, folks. I may or may not have developed a small sore on my tongue from sucking on the wasabi peas and the Doritos on the way home. I’m not confirming either way.

The scale at Erica’s house had frightening news for me, but via further squats and push-ups as my coffeemaker gets heated up, I hope to get back on good terms with it. Anyway, I don’t even own a scale, so don’t really have to worry about it . . . until the next time I’m visiting someone with one of those evil and fascinating devices.

Ah, the South. To this Northern girl, it holds a fascinating peace. A bewildering silence. People are friendly and talkative, and speak all twangy-like.

The expression ‘thundering silence’ was suddenly deeply meaningful.

I love the city–but it takes a toll that you may not notice until you leave. I could almost swear that my heart rate slowed down while we were in Kentucky.

As soon as we arrived, we had to check out Carrie’s dress-in-progress.

The fabric is a beautiful light green that complements Carrie’s hair, skin, and eyes perfectly, with an elegant gold trim.

Erica, I can’t tell you how grateful we are that you were willing to make us these gorgeous gowns.

I dub her ‘Nimblefingers the Great.’

Thank you for all your hard work, Nimblefingers!

We will feel like queens in these dresses.

Soon it was time for Carrie to try on the final product.

We couldn’t contain our excitement when we saw how lovely she looked.

I just love the gathers at the back and the scooping neckline. And the trim peaking out of the sleeves–oh my.

Craaarrrgggh! Has there ever been such a gorgeous dress?

Nimblefingers looks pensive, doesn’t she? Don’t doubt your skill, my son.

And I think this lace crown looks fab, girlfriend.

I say, go for it! 

As a reward for our hard work (ehem–Erica’s hard work), as soon as the last stitch was in place we watched Bridget Jones and snacked on coconut milk smoothies and popcorn sprinkled with nutritional yeast. The yeast tastes like cheese powder, and it’s healthy for you! Something about aminoacids.

Carrie put up very graciously with Erica’s and my sisterly capers. We can pretend to be normal human beings for about 2 minutes and 5 seconds . . .

. . . and that’s about as long as it lasts, folks.

But back to ball business! Tonight it is supremely important that I get my beauty sleep.

Because tomorrow, Saturday, is the Regency Ball itself.

We’ll be spending tonight in Indiana with my husband’s parents so that Carrie and I can get up bright and early Saturday morning to fuss with our hair, tie each other’s ribbons, primp, and all those other things we girls do.

White gloves have been located for all parties. Shoes have been purchased. We will drape shawls about our shoulders. And we will dance. And eat. And dance.

I have to say I’m a little nervous about learning these Regency dances. If I miss a step will I turn into a pumpkin?

Full report next week!

Milano

Halloween weekend was a weekend of music for us. It left me with a kind of buzz or high that carried me through at least half of the following week.

Not that I would know what a ‘buzz’ or ‘high’ feels like anyway. Ehem. Right.

Friday night was a blues concert hosted at the West side location of our church. It was incredible. Whoever that guy was on the harmonica–genius. Pure genius. My friend Carrie also sang, and she was fan-tas-tic. I love having musician friends–they are such an inspiration.

During her performance of ‘Black Coffee,’ Carrie crooned:

Now a man is born to go a lovin’
A woman’s born to weep and fret
To stay at home and tend her oven
And drown her past regrets
In coffee and cigarettes

Upon the utterance of the word ‘cigarettes,’ the young children seated right in front of us looked at each other in astonishment. “Is she promoting smoking?” they seemed to be asking each other with shocked eyes.

It was the funniest moment of the night. Their parents must be doing a great job.

Saturday night we went to a venue called Subterranean in Wicker Park to see a band called Milano. The subway was full of people in costume.

Sightings included: a creepy bride with a torn and bloodied gown. Zorro, as pictured above. Some kind of zombie drummerboy. There’s nothing like Halloween weekend to give that edge to the night.

We’d seen Milano once before, and were so excited to see them again. They’re a Chicago based band with a style that is a mixture of rock and folk. Jon Guerra, the lead singer, has an incredible and unique voice that pierces and soars. It’s like he’s putting 100% of his artistry and intentionality into each note.

Carrie and her husband Eric were also there. See if you can guess what they’re dressed as:

Extra points for anyone who can guess Eric’s costume. I’ll give you a hint: weird British TV show that Carrie and Eric swear by. Blue laser light thingy. And that’s all you’ll get out of me.

The energy at the concert was great. The first and second bands were pretty good, but vreeerrry loud. We had to take our eardrums outside for a breather to make it through. Sometimes I forget how loud live music can be, and then I go to a rock concert and I feel like somebody has inserted a drillhammer in my cochlea.

Milano was the 3rd band to play, and they were by far the best of the three. They were all dressed as characters from ‘Clue,’ which made them look even cooler than they normally do. You can’t tell in the picture above, but the violinist had a rockin’ Miss Scarlett vintage costume, complete with a piquante netted hat.

I want that hat.

But more than the hat, I want her mad violinist skills.

Milano’s style is described as ‘gypsy rock’ and they have gorgeous harmonies that make me want to burst into song with them. The interplay of the different instruments is genius. If I were of the correct age and disposition, I would strongly consider being their groupie. The concert was in celebration of the release of their new EP, which has 5 songs on it. The recording doesn’t have the raw energy of their live performances, but I’m slowly reconciling myself to that fact. Just like when we go to see Harry Potter #7 (release date is November 19th, I believe) I will have to reconcile myself to the fact that the movie just can’t be as good as the book. The songs are well recorded, but they don’t fully capture the controlled yet wild abandon of Jon’s voice. If I were in the music business, I’d sign these guys in a second. Then I’d assign them the best producer of all time. Then I’d re-record a couple of the numbers. And I’d re-make the first and second Harry Potter movies too, while I was at it.

Here’s their website–give ’em a listen. They’re awesome. And if you live in Chicago or its environs, you absolutely MUST try to catch them live. They make me thrill, cry, and want to fly straight up into the heavens.

I leave you with the lyrics to ‘Black Coffee’–totally unrelated to Milano, but they’ve been haunting me as of late:

I’m feeling mighty lonesome
Haven’t slept a wink
I walk the floor and watch the door
And in between I drink
Black coffee
Love’s a hand me down brew
I’ll never know a Sunday
In this weekday room

I’m talking to the shadows
from 1 o’clock til 4
And Lord, how slow the moments go
When all I do is pour
Black coffee
Since the blues caught my eye
I’m hanging out on Monday
My Sunday dreams to dry

Now a man is born to go a lovin’
A woman’s born to weep and fret
To stay at home and tend her oven

And drown her past regrets
In coffee and cigarettes

I’m moaning all the morning
and mourning all the night
And in between it’s nicotine
And not much heart to fight
Black coffee
Feelin’ low as the ground
It’s driving me crazy just waiting for my baby
To maybe come around… around
I’m waiting for my baby
To maybe come around

My nerves have gone to pieces
My hair is turning gray
All I do is drink black coffee
Since my man’s gone away