Last weekend we celebrated some family birthdays, namely Mary and my nephew, Patrick. Their birthdays are just a few days apart, so we decided a co-birthday party was the right way to go. Typically, I'm not big on themed anything - rooms, parties, restaurants. Unless, of course, the theme is Side Show Freaks! Prepare yourselves for a picture-heavy post!
The genesis of our party was a slide we saw during a Big Retro Slide Show by Charles Phoenix . The slide featured a mid-century image of a carousel birthday cake. I was bound and determined to make such a cake and feature it on the blog. Mary insisted that I wait and save the cake for an actual event, the kind of event where people gather and celebrate a birth by indulging in cake. A birthday party was born!!!
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| The cake wasn't exactly like this, but you get the idea. I almost wish I had seen this photo before we started...I guess I'll just have to make another carousel cake. |
As we mulled over the possibilities for such a party, I decided that a circus theme was just a little too square. Considering myself rather hep, I tend to shy away from anything hip, I reckoned a side show party (a bit trendy) would allow for a little bit of circus (for the 2-year-old) and a little bit of freak show (for the 19-year-old).
Before entering the "Big Top," party-goers were stopped for a photo-op
behind our hand-painted side show posters.
Details of The Tattooed Lady.
I doubt I'll be getting any offers to appear on LA Ink.
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| The "Big Top" was the dining room where the centerpiece was the aforementioned carousel cake. We hung streamers to recreate the tent ceiling. |
  A close up of the cake. I made the carousel canopy from striped fabric and gold ric rac stretched across a doll's parasol frame that we found at a discount store. The poles are paper straws that held the birthday candles.  A side show wouldn't be complete without side show performers. The matriarch and patriarch of our Family Freak Show and our assortment of human oddities!  |
| The Snake Charmer |
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| The Birthday Boy, a reluctant Strong Man |
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| The Circus Geek |
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| Mr. Tiny, Circus Geek (or maybe just a regular geek) |
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| The Gypsy Fortune Teller |
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| The Tattooed Lady & The Elephant Man |
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| The Bearded Lady |
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| The Bird Man |
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| A Living Mermaid (not of the Fiji variety) |
 The Human Blockhead  |
| Real Siamese Twins |
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| Schlitzie, The Pinhead |
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| Twins of a different Nature |
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| The Big Cat Tamer |
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| Every guest was encouraged to have their fortune told. After gazing into the crystal ball, and examining their palms, our fortune teller presented earnest seekers with their fortune in the form of a fortune cookie! |
I used my vintage ceramic caddies/valets to serve candy. Now that's a hungry, hungry hippo!!!
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| We replaced many of our photos with pictures of our lesser-known family members including, The Dog-Face Boy, Alligator Boy, and The Tattooed Lady. |
We filled in the nooks and crannies with my collection of carnival chalkware.
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| My favorite part was the candy table which featured popcorn, peanuts, pretzels, penny candy, circus peanuts, circus animal cookies, red vines, swirled lollipops, cotton candy, chocolate, and so much more. |
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| The candy table was presided over by our second birthday cake, The BEARDED LADY CAKE!!! |
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| The backyard was strung with lights and balloons and set the stage for hot dogs and lemonade, our Bearded Lady DJ, and a set by the ultimate freak show, Thee Cormans! |
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| The plan was to have Mary and the Birthday Boy blow out the candles together, but by this point in the evening, he had given up, so Mary was left to her own devices. Given her technique, I think we were lucky to have a spittle shield built into the cake! |
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| Like I said, he had given up. Somewhere in the world there is a stark-naked Strong Man running around. |
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| Fish out of water - a reclining mermaid |
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| A detail of her be-shelled hair comb. |
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| Who invited the regular folks?!!! Charles, Jody, and Kevin representing the non-freak faction. No matter, "Gooble gobble, gooble, gobble, we accept you, one of us!" |
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| There's a joke here that's just dying for a punch line; So The Elephant Man, a Mermaid, and a Tattooed Lady walk into a bar.... |
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| Would you believe that the geek on the right is a vegetarian, chicken sitter? |
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| I'm pretty sure this was the happiest day of her life! |
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| Love this pic! |
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| No matter where I went, their eyes seemed to follow me! |
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| It just wouldn't be a Mr. Tiny production without a fireside sing-a-long. |
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| We were even treated to some punkin' strummin' by the newly- bifurcated Siamese Twin, Amber Foxx. |
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| It might not have been "The GREATEST Show on Earth," but it was a real wing ding and a heck-of-a-lot of fun. |
A HUGE Thank you to all in attendance! I really didn't think anyone was going to get dressed up, but everyone truly outdid themselves with spectacular variety and aplomb! Can't wait till the side show blows back into town again!
Once again, the well-framed, well-lit, well-composed photographs are courtesy of Jessica Stopnik Photography. I am hopeless behind a camera (not to mention in front) and I rely on her great skill and talent.
Cheers!
Mr. Tiny
