Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Waffle Fest: A New Year's Tradition

We have a new New Year's Day Tradition - WAFFLE FEST!!!  It was another instance of us attending, but not technically being "invited" - if your understanding of the word is its most literal definition - to a party.  Invited or not, for the last two years on New Year's Day, we have found ourselves at a private event held at the wackiest tackiest (if ever there was one) lighting store.

This saxophone lamp sets the tone for the whole store.
Kona Lighting is an amazing resource for vintage fittings, antique
shades, and in-house creations of the most fascinating variety.

A sputnik-style lamp with Christmas bulbs

Waffle Fest is the annual celebration held by the family at Kona Lighting in Stanton, CA.  Kona Lighting is the perfect place for interesting, antique/vintage, hard-to-find, or custom lighting fixtures any day of the year; New Year's Day, however, it is a wonderland of waffles.  Waffles are the order of the day and there is absolutely no questioning that fact with just a brief glimpse through the store.

An intergalactic, waffle starburst!

We've only been in attendance for two years and already it appears that there is an effort by the WF masterminds to outdo themselves with every new year - especially when it comes to the unbelievable waffle-themed party favors (last year we were treated to WF gliders with rubber band launchers).

This year, the party favor was a waffle bolo tie
with hand-whittled sausage finials.
Each piece is hand made and painted!

Cast resin Waffle Fest nightlights pay homage to the Von Dutch flying eyeball.
I am prone to hyperbole, but this is absolute GENIUS!!!

Besides the waffles and custom omelette bar and lighting and party favors, there is more - a band!!! The Riff Raff Swing Band is the WF house band and plays the finest in gypsy jazz and swing.


This year the band saw us dancing and singing along and ended up having us sing a few tunes.  I guess they didn't realize that once they gave up the microphone, they would never get it back (waffles with a large side order of HAM)!  We sang and sang (even when the words weren't exactly right) and sang some more and eventually got the whole crowd to join in on Gershwin's "Summertime."

Mary and Paul (who rectified our crimes against harmony) showing off their
 waffle bolo ties.
Mary is also wearing the mini-waffle earrings she picked up at last year's WF.
Everybody was astonished to see them because they were made out of
real, edible, mini waffles but somehow her pair managed to survive!

At one point during the waffle making merriment, our friend Kevin (our access point into WF) was heard saying, "I'm saving room for a pancake."  A PANCAKE?!?!?!!!  As you can imagine, the music screeched to a halt and several women fainted dead away right where they stood.  Instead of being escorted off of the premises by Waffle Fest security, Kevin was whisked away for a brief waffle indoctrination session and set on the straight-and-narrow path to waffle glory.

I don't know if it is possible for me to love this tabletop tableau any more than I already do - miniatures, a poodle with a waffle beret, Bob's Big Boy.  Love is Waffle Fest!

Our new year's wish is that the jig will most definitely not be up (stay down?) any time soon; if we can stave off the knowledge that we are Waffle Fest infidels* who somehow managed to horn our way in on the fun, we will definitely have a "Happy New Year" for many years to come.



Kona Lighting
8372 Katella Ave
Stanton, CA
(714)828-0910

*I'm including Kona Lighting's information for your lighting/decorating interests.  Please keep in mind that Waffle Fest is, as far as I know, not really open to the general public.  If I could invite you all, I would.

However, you ARE INVITED to our unofficial, wacky tacky Huell Howser memorial to be held on Sunday, January 13, 2013 at 2:00pm at Philippe's in downtown Los Angeles.  We'll meet there for food, fun, prizes, and sharing our best memories of our pal, Huell.  This is an informal gathering of wacky tacky and Huell Howser fans and is a totally unsponsored event.

Philippe the Original
1001 Alameda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

10 comments:

  1. I am so jealous of the prospect of eating waffles surrounded by weirdly wonderful lighting fixtures. Please score me an invite in 2014. thankyouverymuch

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  2. Oh gee, you get to do some AWESOME stuff!!! This sounds just delightful with cool favors and all! Mary's earrings look great-how she managed to keep them, I can't guess! LOL How fun, though! Last spring when I drove my friend to RI from Texas, we stayed at the Comfort Inns that offer a free hot breakfast. One of the items was make-it-yourself Belgian waffles!!! Oh so delish!!! In Texas, it was in the shape of the state! I wanted one of those waffle makers so bad-the kind where you pour in the batter, close it up and after so many minutes, flip to the other side. I didn't get one yet, but I will eventually!
    And those lighting fixtures!!! Just adore those sputnik ones! Wish I could find a plug-in swag just like those. Oh, be still my heart!!!! Heh heh

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    1. A Texas State waffle?!?!?! Is there a special reservoir in the panhandle for extra syrup? That so sounds so awesome! I'm a total weirdo who actually doesn't care for waffles that much. But I could be reformed by one from the Lone-Star State!

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  3. how awesome! i love those bolo ties!!! i used to throw lots of themed parties, but stopped when people stopped dressing on theme. I need to get back into it, and make stuff like that to hand out!

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    1. Theme parties are hard because they do take twice the effort of a normal party. I've found that reverse psychology works; telling people that dressing up doesn't matter seems to take the pressure off and then they put in some effort. Can't wait to see what parties you'll plan in 2013!

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  4. Not open to the public? How WAFFLE! *sob*

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    1. Hahahaha!!! I love it! Whenever people are more clever than I, I get mad at myself for not thinking of it first!

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  5. Be still my heart, I dont beleive i've EVER seen that many waffles and Sputnik lamps in the same place! What fun, covert 'lifes of the party' you all are!

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    1. Hahaha!!! We do our best. We're thinking about becoming professional party guests - we like to party!

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